Cutaneous metastasis from gastrointestinal cancer: A rare presentation: Case series

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Cutaneous metastases (CM) from Gastro intestinal (GI)malignancies are rare. It usually occurs lately in cancer evolution. The treatment is mostly palliative. METHODS: This was a retrospective review of the available clinical and histological records of all patients with CMs from GI malignancies treated at our institute during 17 years (2000-2016). RESULTS: Eight cases of CMs were recorded: (5males and 3 females. Meanage was 59 years (45-90 years). CM revealed gastro intestinal (GI) malignancy in fourcases. The metastasis was unique in 5 cases and multiple in Three cases. It was located in the thorax, the abdomen the face,the axillary region and in the trunk. The primary site was gastric (3 cases), colorectal in two cases, biliary in one pancreatic case and undetermined in one case. Treatment was palliative in all cases and overall survival after diagnosis ranged from one month to three months. CONCLUSION: Cutaneous metastasis can be the presenting symptom of cancer or may occur in the evolution. It can mimic benign skin lesions. Treatment is often palliative based on chemotherapy the role of surgical excision is not clear. The prognosis is poor.