The correlation between serum progesterone levels and syringoma

Ifen Ayu Malinda, Imam Budi Putra, Ariyati Yosi

Background Syringoma is a benign adnexal tumor that originates from the eccrine glands. Clinically, it manifests as multiple papules that range in size from 1 to 5 mm. These papules are typically skin-colored to yellowish and often appear in the periorbital region. Although not malignant, syringoma can be aesthetically disturbing and may affect an individual’s self-confidence. The etiopathogenesis of syringoma is not fully understood, but the influence of progesterone has been suspected as a possible cause. Objective This study aims to determine the correlation between serum progesterone levels and syringoma. Methods This is an observational cross-sectional study involving 35 patients with syringoma and 35 patients without syringoma. Each patient underwent anamnesis, dermatologic and dermoscopic examinations, and blood sampling to assess serum progesterone levels using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test. The data were analyzed using Fisher’s exact test. Results The majority of syringoma patients were found in the age range of 26–35 years, comprising 17 subjects (48.57%). The distribution of syringoma types showed that the most common was the localized form, found in 18 subjects (51.43%), followed by the familial form in 9 subjects (25.71%) and the generalized form in 8 subjects (22.86%). Analysis of serum progesterone levels indicated that among all study samples, 10 subjects (28.57%) with high progesterone levels belonged to the group syringoma, while only 2 subjects (5.71%) belonged to the control group. The results of this study demonstrate a positive correlation [OR 6.6 (95% CI 1.33–32.8), p = 0.023]. Conclusion Syringoma predominantly affects young to mid-adult women, with localized forms most common and familial cases present. The lesions frequently occur in the periorbital region, particularly on the lower eyelid. A strong association between elevated progesterone levels and progesterone receptor expression suggests hormonal involvement. Progesterone may influence tumor development through its effects on sweat glands, keratinocytes, and skin structure.