Overview
Syringocystadenoma papilliferum (SCAP) is a rare, benign (non-cancerous) skin tumor that develops from sweat gland tissue. It is sometimes called a sweat gland hamartoma or papillary syringocystadenoma. This condition most often appears on the scalp or face, though it can also develop on the neck, trunk, or other areas of the body. The tumor usually looks like a warty, raised, or crusted skin growth that may ooze or feel moist to the touch. It is often present at birth or appears during early childhood, sometimes growing more noticeable around puberty. Syringocystadenoma papilliferum is frequently found alongside another skin condition called nevus sebaceus, which is a yellowish, hairless patch of skin that is present from birth. When these two conditions occur together, the SCAP growth often develops within the nevus sebaceus area during childhood or adolescence. While SCAP itself is almost always benign, there is a small chance that it can be associated with other skin tumors over time, so regular monitoring by a skin specialist is important. The main treatment for syringocystadenoma papilliferum is surgical removal of the growth. Most people who have the tumor removed do very well and do not experience recurrence. Because this is a skin condition and not a systemic disease, it generally does not affect internal organs or overall health. Early diagnosis and appropriate management by a dermatologist or skin surgeon can lead to excellent outcomes for most patients.
Also known as:
Key symptoms:
Warty or bumpy raised skin growth, usually on the scalp or faceMoist or oozing surface on the skin lesionCrusting or scabbing on the growthHairless patch of skin where the tumor developsSkin growth that may enlarge around pubertyReddish or skin-colored nodule or plaqueItching or mild discomfort around the lesionGrowth appearing within a yellowish hairless birthmark (nevus sebaceus)
Clinical phenotype terms (5)— hover any for plain English
Sporadic
Usually appears on its own, not inherited from a parent
Variable
Can begin at different ages, from infancy through adulthood
FDA & Trial Timeline
6 eventsUniversidad de la Sabana
Qingyuan Zhan — PHASE2, PHASE3
CHOSEOK YOON — NA
Joan Sabater Riera
Ramsay Générale de Santé — NA
Biotest — PHASE3
Data sourced from FDA regulatory filings and ClinicalTrials.gov. Updated periodically.
Treatments
No FDA-approved treatments are currently listed for Syringocystadenoma papilliferum.
3 clinical trialsare actively recruiting — trials can provide access to cutting-edge therapies.
View clinical trials →Treatment Centers
8 centersBaylor College of Medicine Rare Disease Center ↗
Baylor College of Medicine
📍 Houston, TX
🏥 NORDStanford Medicine Rare Disease Center ↗
Stanford Medicine
📍 Stanford, CA
🔬 UDNNIH Clinical Center Undiagnosed Diseases Program ↗
National Institutes of Health
📍 Bethesda, MD
🔬 UDNUCLA UDN Clinical Site ↗
UCLA Health
📍 Los Angeles, CA
🔬 UDNBaylor College of Medicine UDN Clinical Site ↗
Baylor College of Medicine
📍 Houston, TX
🔬 UDNHarvard/MGH UDN Clinical Site ↗
Massachusetts General Hospital
📍 Boston, MA
🏥 NORDMayo Clinic Center for Individualized Medicine ↗
Mayo Clinic
📍 Rochester, MN
👤 Mayo Clinic Center for Individualized Medicine
🏥 NORDUCLA Rare Disease Day Program ↗
UCLA Health
📍 Los Angeles, CA
Travel Grants
No travel grants are currently matched to Syringocystadenoma papilliferum.
Community
No community posts yet. Be the first to share your experience with Syringocystadenoma papilliferum.
Start the conversation →Latest news about Syringocystadenoma papilliferum
Disease timeline:
New recruiting trial: Determination of Scapulothoracic and Glenohumeral Angles by Imaging in Patients After Shoulder Arthroplasty (SCAP-imag)
A new clinical trial is recruiting patients for Syringocystadenoma papilliferum
New recruiting trial: Efficacy and Safety of Trimodulin (BT588) in Subjects With Severe Community-acquired Pneumonia (sCAP)
A new clinical trial is recruiting patients for Syringocystadenoma papilliferum
Caregiver Resources
NORD Caregiver Resources
Support, advocacy, and financial assistance for caregivers of rare disease patients.
Mental Health Support
Rare disease caregiving can be isolating. Connect with counseling and peer support.
Family & Caregiver Grants
Financial assistance programs specifically for caregivers of rare disease patients.
Social Security Disability
Learn how rare disease patients may qualify for SSDI/SSI benefits.
Questions for your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment
- Q1.Should this growth be removed, and if so, what is the best timing for surgery?,Is this growth related to a nevus sebaceus, and does that change the treatment plan?,What is the risk that this lesion could become cancerous if left untreated?,What type of surgery is recommended, and will it leave a scar?,How often should my child have skin check-ups after treatment?,Are there any signs I should watch for that would mean I need to come back sooner?,Does my child need any other tests to check for related skin conditions?
Common questions about Syringocystadenoma papilliferum
What is Syringocystadenoma papilliferum?
Syringocystadenoma papilliferum (SCAP) is a rare, benign (non-cancerous) skin tumor that develops from sweat gland tissue. It is sometimes called a sweat gland hamartoma or papillary syringocystadenoma. This condition most often appears on the scalp or face, though it can also develop on the neck, trunk, or other areas of the body. The tumor usually looks like a warty, raised, or crusted skin growth that may ooze or feel moist to the touch. It is often present at birth or appears during early childhood, sometimes growing more noticeable around puberty. Syringocystadenoma papilliferum is frequ
How is Syringocystadenoma papilliferum inherited?
Syringocystadenoma papilliferum follows a sporadic inheritance pattern. Genetic counseling can help families understand recurrence risk and testing options.
Are there clinical trials for Syringocystadenoma papilliferum?
Yes — 3 recruiting clinical trials are currently listed for Syringocystadenoma papilliferum on UniteRare. See the clinical trials section on this page for phase, sponsor, and site details sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov.
Which specialists treat Syringocystadenoma papilliferum?
2 specialists and care centers treating Syringocystadenoma papilliferum are listed on UniteRare, sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov principal investigators, published research, and the NPPES NPI registry.