Metastatic Skin Cancer That Showed Multiple Erythematous Patches on the Trunk

Kim, Sung Ae; Cho, Jae We; Lee, Kyu Suk

Abstract

Cancer that tends to metastasize to other internal organs also involves the skin with various clinical features. We report two cases of metastatic skin cancer that showed multiple erythematous patches on the trunk. Two patients presented with erythematous macules and a patch with telangiectasia on the trunk and chest wall. A microscopic examination of the skin biopsy specimens showed infiltration of large atypical cells with hyperchromatic nuclei and scant cytoplasm in the dermis. Using variable immunohistochemical staining, we identified the primary origin of the cancer, which was breast cancer. Usually, cutaneous metastatic carcinoma shows solitary and multiple nodules on the trunk, but there are also many unusual clinical findings. Dermatologists should pay attention to the sudden onset of symptomless erythematous patches and nodules on the trunk and conduct a skin biopsy and immunohistochemical staining.