A Case of Cutaneous Metastasis from Esophageal Carcinoma

ABSTRACT

We report a case of cutaneous metastatic carcinoma from an esophageal carcinoma in a 54-year-old male who complained of several pinhead-sized erythematous tender papules on the up-per chest. He had been admitted to the department of internal medicine for esophageal carcinoma. Radiological examinations revealed a luminal narrowing below the level of carina on esophagography, and a mass on the mid esophagus, left atrium and pulmonary vein on the chest CT scan. On endoscopy, about 30cm from the central incisor, a huge polypoid mass with a central ulceration and dirty surface margin was noted. Histopathological examination of the skin and esophageal biopsies showed the same atypical squamous cells with distinctive nucleoli, nuclear membrane and intercellular bridge, which were consistent with the squamous cell carcinoma of nonkeratinizing large cell type, suggesting these cutaneous lesions were metastasized from the esophageal carcinoma.