Skin metastasis of head and neck carcinoma predictive for dismal outcome

Dermatol Online J. 2008 Jun 15;14(6):8.

Abstract

A 64-year-old female with locally advanced oropharyngeal carcinoma presented with an innocuous appearing macule on the abdomen. The lesion rapidly enlarged over 2 weeks into an inflammatory 5 cm fleshy nodule that was diagnosed as squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and was found to overexpress epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). A fatal outcome occurred 3 months after the initial diagnosis of cancer, in spite of chemotherapy and treatment with EGFR inhibitors (cetuximab). Cutaneous metastases occur in 10 percent of squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck. Contiguous cutaneous metastases in the head and neck areas are by far the most common. Conversely, isolated infradiaphragmatic cutaneous metastases are exceedingly rare and are associated with an aggressive clinical course. In a patient with cancer, the possibility of distant skin metastasis should be considered whenever new cutaneous nodules appear.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Abdominal Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Abdominal Neoplasms / pathology
  • Abdominal Neoplasms / secondary*
  • Abdominal Neoplasms / therapy
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / therapeutic use
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / metabolism
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / pathology
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / secondary*
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / therapy
  • Cetuximab
  • ErbB Receptors / metabolism
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Oropharyngeal Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Prognosis
  • Skin Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Skin Neoplasms / pathology
  • Skin Neoplasms / secondary*
  • Skin Neoplasms / therapy
  • Surgical Procedures, Operative

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • ErbB Receptors
  • Cetuximab