Cutaneous metastasis of papillary serous uterine cancer

Cutaneous metastases of endometrial carcinoma: report of an unusual case and literature review

PURPOSE

Cutaneous metastases of endometrial carcinoma are rare. We report a case of a 54-year-old woman who developed cutaneous metastases from an endometrial carcinoma, and review the related literature to offer insight into this rare and serious condition.

METHODS

The clinical and pathological data and therapy delivered to a patient from Peking University People's Hospital, were retrieved from her medical records. A systematic literature search regarding this unusual disease progression was conducted through PubMed/MEDLINE.

RESULTS

A postmenopausal patient diagnosed with stage IB endometrioid carcinoma rapidly developed cutaneous metastases. 10 months postoperatively, the patient developed multiple lymph node metastases, and 22 months later, cutaneous metastases appeared on both breasts. She was then treated with chemotherapy, immunotherapy and hormone therapy. The skin lesions eased temporarily but deteriorated quickly. Ultimately, she died in 7 months subsequent to the appearance of cutaneous lesions.

CONCLUSION

Cutaneous metastases from endometrial carcinoma have usually been incurable and associated with a limited prognosis.

Subcutaneous metastasis from endometrial cancer; case report and literature review

Subcutaneous metastases from endometrial cancer are rare situations, only few cases being described so far. The main incriminated mechanisms leading to the apparition of such lesions include hematogenous and lymphatic spread. We present the case of a 66-year-old patient known with previous history of stage IIIA endometroid endometrial carcinoma initially treated by surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy who developed at 18 months follow-up a distant subcutaneous oligometastasis. At this time the patient was resubmitted to surgery, the lesion being successfully removed. The histopathological result confirmed the endometrial cancer origin of this lesion. Subcutaneous and cutaneous metastases from endometrial cancer are rare eventualities which are usually diagnosed as part of systemic dissemination of this malignancy; in these cases, the patient is only candidate for oncological treatment with palliative intent. In some cases, in which the lesions occur as oligometastatic disease, surgery might be performed with curative intent. In our case the diagnostic of the subcutaneous lesion as oligometastatic disease transformed the patient in a perfect candidate for curative oncological surgery.

Metastatic papillary serous uterine cancer presenting as a rash

BACKGROUND

We report diagnosis and management of stage IV papillary serous uterine cancer with initial clinical presentation as a skin rash.

CASE

A 62-year-old postmenopausal female developed an erythematous rash beginning on her right lower abdomen and progressively spreading to her left abdomen, vulva, and neck. After a trial of antibiotic treatment, biopsy of left neck and right thigh skin nodules revealed papillary serous carcinoma. Abdominopelvic tomography revealed endometrial thickening and a 5 cm left adnexal mass. Subsequent endometrial biopsy also revealed papillary serous carcinoma, with pathology similar to that of the skin lesions. She received 6 cycles of carboplatin and paclitaxel chemotherapy with improvement of her skin lesions and overall performance status. However, her CA-125 level continued to rise and she was treated with single-agent carboplatin with progression of both her internal and cutaneous disease. She was transitioned to hospice with palliative radiation and died 2 months after discontinuing chemotherapy, 10 months after presentation.

CONCLUSION

Cutaneous metastasis is a rare presentation of metastatic uterine cancer. Treatment with chemotherapy may result in a positive response and should be considered.

Cutaneous Metastases of the Synchronous Primary Endometrial and Bilateral Ovarian Cancer: An Infrequent Presentation and Literature Review

There are limited data about the cutaneous metastases of gynecological malignancies in the literature. Based on this limited number of studies, cutaneous metastases from gynecological malignancies are uncommon occurrences. Cutaneous metastases from the synchronous endometrioid carcinoma of the uterine corpus and bilateral ovaries arising from endometriosis are extremely rare. Herein, we report a 51-year-old woman with FIGO Stage 1A Grade 1 endometrial endometrioid-type adenocarcinoma and synchronous bilateral Stage 1B ovarian endometrioid-type adenocarcinoma who presented 34 months following total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy with skin metastases. After the patient underwent an excisional biopsy, we applied a palliative radiotherapy. The patient received the combination therapy with cisplatin and doxorubicin after the completion of radiotherapy but the disease evolution was rapidly fatal and the patient died 4 months after her admission to our department due to widely disseminated disease.

Radiation port cutaneous metastases: reports of two patients whose recurrent visceral cancers presented as skin lesions at the site of previous radiation and literature review

Radiation therapy is associated with a variety of complications, including the development of primary skin cancers in the radiated region. However, it is rare for patients with visceral cancers who are treated with radiation therapy to subsequently develop cutaneous metastasis within the radiation port. We describe two patients with internal malignancies who developed cutaneous metastases within their radiation ports following radiotherapy. In addition, we used PubMed to perform an extensive literature review and identify additional reports of cutaneous metastasis within a radiation port. We excluded patients who developed melanoma or primary skin cancers in the radiation port. We also excluded patients with non-solid organ malignancies. Herein, we summarize the characteristics of 23 additional patients who experienced radiation port cutaneous metastases and explore possible mechanisms for the occurrence of radiation port cutaneous metastases.

Cutaneous metastasis in endometrial cancer: once in a blue moon - case report

Background

Cutaneous metastases from internal malignancies are uncommon. Moreover, endometrial carcinoma rarely metastasizes to the skin, with a reported prevalence of 0.8%. Here, we report the case of a 62-year-old woman who developed cutaneous metastases from an endometrial carcinoma.

Case presentation

When admitted to our department, the patient underwent a biopsy that showed the presence of cutaneous metastasis in relation to her initial endometrial cancer, diagnosed 3 years earlier. Thereafter, she was treated with a bilateral uterine artery embolization and chemotherapy. The patient had complications and survived 5 months after the diagnosis of the cutaneous metastasis. She died from sepsis.

Conclusion

Cutaneous metastases of the endometrial carcinoma are usually incurable and suggest an unfortunate prognosis where palliation is the mainstay of patient management.

Cutaneous metastases from internal malignancies

Cutaneous metastases of internal malignancies still seem to occur infrequently, although medical publications report an incidence rate of up to 10.4%. Common sense, however, fosters suspicion that we might underdiagnose the problem distracted by harder striking facets of an advanced disease. With contemporary knowledge, morphology and behavior of cutaneous metastases resemble each other regardless of the site of origin. This article itemizes clinical presentations according to organ systems, specific features, and differential diagnoses. In general, the survival turned out to be less than 12 months. But incremental awareness of cutaneous metastases proclaims this paradigm insufficient. Although excision is the local treatment of choice, investigations attempt to propose tumor-specific chemotherapeutic/immunological approaches. This paper endeavors to critically review the state of the art concerning the clinic, prognosis, and therapeutic concepts.

Skin metastasis: a pathologist's perspective

Skin metastasis is defined as the spread of malignant cells from a primary malignancy to the skin. It is one manifestation of systemic spread of cancer. The tumor cells originate either from an internal malignancy or from a primary skin cancer. This study presents a literature review concerning these issues as well as this author's experience encountered throughout 19 years of surgical pathology and dermatopathology practice. Several conclusions are evident. Generally, skin metastases are encountered in 0.7-9% of all patients with cancer and as such the skin is an uncommon site of metastatic disease when compared to other organs. There is usually a long-time lag between the diagnosis of the primary malignancy and the recognition of the skin metastases. However, these metastases may be the first indication of the clinically silent visceral malignancies. The regional distribution of the skin metastasis, although not always predictable, is related to the location of the primary malignancy and the mechanism of metastatic spread. The relative frequency of skin metastasis correlates with the type of primary cancer, which occurs in each sex. For instance, lung and breast carcinomas are the most common primaries that send skin metastasis in men and women, respectively. The head and neck region and the anterior chest are the areas of greatest predilection in men. The anterior chest wall and the abdomen are the most commonly involved sites in women. Skin metastases usually appear as non-specific groups of discrete firm painless nodules that emerge rapidly without any explanation. They vary in size from so tiny as to be of 'miliary lesions' to as large as 'Hen's egg size'. Some skin metastasis may mimic specific dermatological conditions such as cutaneous cyst, dermatofibroma, pyogenic granuloma, hemangioma, papular eruptions, herpes zoster eruptions, rapidly infiltrating plaques, alopecic patches, cellulitis and erysipelas. Histologically, the skin metastases usually show features reminiscent of the primary malignancy, but with variable degrees of differentiation. Molecularly, skin metastasis is an organized, non-random and organ-selective process orchestrated by interaction among several heterogeneous molecules, which are largely unknown. Metastasis to the skin is often a pre-terminal event that heralds poor outcome.

Prophylactic oophorectomy in premenopausal women and long-term health

OBJECTIVE

To review the data on long-term outcomes in women who underwent prophylactic bilateral oophorectomy, a common surgical procedure that has more than doubled in frequency since the 1960s.

STUDY DESIGN

Literature review of the published data on the consequences of prophylactic bilateral oophorectomy. Special emphasis was given to the Mayo Clinic Cohort Study of Oophorectomy and Aging. Main outcome measures Overall mortality, cardiovascular disease, cognitive impairment and dementia, parkinsonism, osteoporosis, psychological wellbeing and sexual function.

RESULTS

There is a growing body of evidence suggesting that the premature loss of ovarian function caused by bilateral oophorectomy performed before natural menopause is associated with several negative outcomes. In particular, studies have revealed an increased risk of premature death, cardiovascular disease, cognitive impairment or dementia, parkinsonism, osteoporosis and bone fractures, decline in psychological wellbeing and decline in sexual function. The effects involve different organs (e.g. heart, bone, or brain), and different functions within organs (e.g. cognitive, motor, or emotional brain functions). Estrogen treatment may prevent some but not all of these negative outcomes.

CONCLUSION

The potential adverse effects of prophylactic bilateral oophorectomy on heart health, neurological health, bone health and quality of life should be carefully weighed against its potential benefits for cancer risk reduction in women at average risk of ovarian cancer.

Cutaneous metastases of visceral tumours: a review

BACKGROUND

Up to 10% of all visceral malignancies develop cutaneous metastases. As cutaneous metastases are underestimated and underdiagnosed they can be a clinical challenge. The clinical appearance and patterns of distribution of cutaneous metastases, the characterisation of clinical outcomes and available therapeutic options are compiled.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Literature (over the last 6 years) MESH in terms of cutaneous metastases was comprehensively evaluated. Characteristics from 92 available cases are elaborated and adjusted with terms (time unlimited) of published epidemiological reviews to single organs.

RESULTS

The broad clinical spectrum with differential diagnoses is displayed. An allocation of cutaneous metastases and a particular organ is not reliable. In 22% of all cases cutaneous metastases can lead to the diagnosis of an internal malignoma. The majority of cases reveal cutaneous metastases to emerge in a tumour-free interval in about 36 months, after a successful treatment of the primary tumour, most commonly along with other organ metastases. Probable survival turned out to be less than 12 months. Consistently with this end-stage condition, treatment aligns with rules of palliation. Local treatment of choice is excision. Only a minority of investigators attempted to come up with tumour-specific treatment strategies, and almost no randomised therapy studies can be presented.

CONCLUSION

A reference guide of cutaneous metastases is given; the clinical spectrum is adjusted to an actual status; state of the art of the treatment is accomplished. An epidemiological, improved registration and diagnostic work-up for targeted therapies in conjunction with dermatologists are favoured.

Cutaneous metastasis of uterine papillary serous carcinoma

Uterine papillary serous carcinoma (UPSC) is an uncommon highly malignant variant of endometrial adenocarcinoma that histologically and clinically resembles papillary serous carcinoma of the ovary. This case demonstrates a very rare case of cutaneous metastasis of uterine papillary serous carcinoma. A 54-year-old Korean female developed multiple pruritic skin nodules on the pubic area 13 months later after diagnosis of uterine papillary serous carcinoma. A biopsy of the skin lesions showed papillary serous carcinoma, compatible with her primary tumor. Without clinical history, it is difficult to distinguish other types of metastatic carcinoma to the skin and primary apocrine carcinoma of the skin from metastatic uterine papillary serous carcinoma. Whereas uterine papillary serous carcinoma only rarely involves the skin, this entity should be included in the differential diagnosis of papillary adenocarcinoma in the skin.