Cutaneous and subcutaneous metastases of adenocarcinoma of the colon and rectum
Tan, K-Yang.; Ho, K-Sun.; Lai, J-Herng.; Lim, J-Fong.; Ooi, B-Swee.; Tang, C-Leong.; Eu, K-Weng.
Annals of the Academy of Medicine Singapore 35(8): 585-587
2006
ISSN/ISBN: 0304-4602 PMID: 17006588 Document Number: 603827
Introduction: The interesting topic of cutaneous and subcutaneous metastasis from rectal carcinoma is discussed using 3 cases. Clinical Picture: The first case was a 70-year-old man with T3N2M0 rectal mucinous adenocarcinoma, who developed an inflammatory subcutaneous metastasis at the left scapula 2 years after anterior resection. The second case was a 51-year-old man with T4N2M0 splenic flexure mucinous adenocarcinoma, who developed metastatic disease including a subcutaneous secondary to the back. The third case was a 53-year-old woman who developed vulval recurrence 10 months after abdomino-perineal resection for a low T3NIM0 rectal adenocarcinoma. Treatment: All underwent wide resection. Conclusion: This entity is rare and usually signifies disseminated disease if found remote from the resection site and warrants a thorough metastatic work up. A high index of suspicion is recommended when encountered with unresolving skin lesions in cancer patients.