Ann Dermatol.  2009 May;21(2):164-167. 10.5021/ad.2009.21.2.164.

A Case of Esophageal Adenocarcinoma Metastasized to the Scalp

• Park JM
• Kim DS
• Oh SH
• Kwon YS
• Lee KH

• KMID: 2219387
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5021/ad.2009.21.2.164

Abstract

Cutaneous metastases from internal malignancies are, occurring in 0.5% to 9% of cases. Lung, breast, and colorectal cancers are common primary tumors that metastasize to the skin; cutaneous metastasis usually occurs on the chest wall and abdomen as asymptomatic nodular patterns. Esophageal cancer is not nearly as common as breast, lung, and colorectal cancers, and esophageal cancer rarely metastasizes to the skin. Cutaneous metastasis of esophageal cancer is rare and metastasis to the scalp is extremely rare. Only a few cases of cutaneous metastases of esophageal cancer have been reported in Korea. Most of the cases involved cutaneous metastases arising from esophageal squamous cell carcinoma; however, there have been several reports describing cutaneous metastases from esophageal adenocarcinomas. Herein, we describe a case of metastatic skin cancer that originated from esophageal adenocarcinoma.

Keyword

Adenocarcinoma; Esophagus; Metastasis; Scalp

MeSH Terms

Abdomen
Adenocarcinoma
Breast
Colorectal Neoplasms
Esophageal Neoplasms
Esophagus
Korea
Lung
Neoplasm Metastasis
Scalp
Skin
Skin Neoplasms
Thoracic Wall

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 1 cm sized flesh-colored hard nodule on the occipital area of the scalp.

• 

  Fig. 2 (A) Multiple poorly differentiated cystic and ductal spaces lined with atypical epithelial cells forming a glandular structure in the dermis (H&E, ×40). (B) At high power magnification, cytologic atypia with pleomorphic and hyperchromatic nuclei and apoptotic necrosis were observed (H&E, ×100). (C) The tumor cells show immunoreactivity with CEA (CEA, ×100). (D) Immunohistochemical staining shows diffuse membrane staining with EMA (EMA, ×100).

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