Cutaneous metastasis of unknown primary presenting as massive and invasive abdominal lesion: an elective approach

Abstract: We describe herein what is to our knowledge the first reported case of an invasive cutaneous metastasis with unknown primary, electively treated solely with electrochemotherapy. We describe a female patient with a large, invasive and painful lesion in her hypogastric region, extending up to the pubic area. The cutaneous biopsy and instrumental and laboratory analyses, all failed to reveal the primary site. A final diagnosis of cutaneous metastasis with unknown primary was made and treatment was performed with electrochemotherapy. Our case highlights the importance of interdisciplinary choices in clinical practice to cope with the lack of a primary site and to improve quality of life, since no standardized therapy exists for these classes of patients.

Adenocarcinoma of Unknown Primary Site

BACKGROUND: Metastatic cancer of unknown primary site occupies 0.5~10% of all diagnosed cancer patients and includes various tumors with diverse responses to systemic chemotherapy. Adenocarcinoma of unknown primary site (ACUPS), the most common subtype, has no standard treatment, rarely responds to conventional treatment and has a poor survival rate. METHODS: The retrospective study was performed to investigate the clinical characteristics and the treatment outcomes of ACUPS. RESULTS: Eighty-one patients with ACUPS diagnosed at Samsung Medical Center from May 1995 to July 1999 were included. The median age was 58 years (range, 29~77). The common sites of metastases were the lymph node, liver, lung and bone in order. In 49 of 81 patients (60.5%), the dominant tumor location was below the diaphragm. The majority of patients (76 of 81) were initially treated with systemic chemotherapy including cisplatin. Responses were evaluable in 70 of 76. Eighteen of 70 patients (25.7%) responded to chemotherapy and complete remission was observed in 6 patients. The overall median survival of 81 patients was 5.6 months. The median survival of the responding patients was 18.3 months but the median survival of the nonresponding patients was 4.6 months (p<0.01). In univariate and multivariate analysis, age, performance status and response to initial chemotherapy were significant prognostic factors for overall survival. CONCLUSION: We observed poor response to the treatment and survival rate in ACUPS, but complete remission and long-term survival were observed in a small number of patients.

Câncer de primário desconhecido: uma abordagem para o clínico / Cancer of unknown primary site: an approach for internists

Cancer of unknown primary site is a commom clinical syndrome characterised by neoplasm whose primary site remain unknown after visual investigation. The clinical approach is based in biopsy findings and a cost-effective investigation for each anatomo-pathologic category (undifferentiated malign neoplasm, well differentiated adenocarcinoma, epidermoid carcinoma, poorly differentiatetd carcinoma). Most of times, primary site identification is not possible at all and treatment is "empirical, made by surgery, radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy, according clinical situation and investigation results. If the primary site is identified, appropriate treatment is employed.

Metástasis de Origen Desconocido / Metastasis of Unknown Origin

Las metástasis de origen desconocido son aquellos tumores metastásicos cuyo sitio de origen no es sugerido por la historia clínica, el examen físico, los estudios imagenológicos, análisis de sangre, orina y la evaluación histopatológica; corresponden al 5-10 por ciento de los tumores en general. Los tipos histológicos de tumores encontrados en las metástasis de origen desconocido son adenocarcinoma (40 por ciento), carcinomas indiferenciados (40 por ciento), carcinomas escamosos (13 por ciento), melanoma maligno (4 por ciento) y neuroblastoma (1 por ciento); otras formas histopatológicas corresponden al 2 por ciento. En la identificación y determinación de las metástasis se utilizan las pruebas de histopatología, inmunoperoxidasas, microscopia electrónica, estudios radiológicos y bioquímicos. Los sitios mas frecuentes de metástasis son el pulmón, hígado y cerebro. El enfoque de los pacientes con metástasis de origen desconocido, busca establecer el origen primario del mismo; será primario si se observan transformaciones sucesivas en el tejido, al encontrar cambios consecutivos como metaplasia, displasia, carcinoma in situ y carcinoma invasor; será lesión metastásica si no se observa este gradiente de presentación. Los diferentes estudios radiológicos (rayos x, tomografía, resonancia magnética) informan la extensión del tumor, pero no ofrecerán una contribución a encontrar el tumor primario. En conclusión, es la historia clínica la que ayuda a establecer el posible sitio primario y a elegir el método diagnóstico a solicitar y emplear. Como tratamiento se debe intentar una prueba terapéutica con esquemas basados en el cisplatino o sus análogos, siendo la única limitante el mal estado funcional del paciente. Los dos esquemas más ampliamente utilizados son PEB (cisplatino, etopósido, bleomicina) y PVB (cisplatino, vinblastina, bleomicina)