Korean J Dermatol.  2008 Mar;46(3):347-351.

A Case of Cutaneous Zosteriform Metastatic Carcinoma Arising on the Healed Site of Herpes Zoster

• Na SY
• Lee HY
• Baek JO
• Roh JY
• Lee JR

Abstract

We report a case of a 67-year-old man presenting with a 2-week history of erythematous zosteriform indurated confluent nodules and plaques on the right chest which was affected by a herpes zoster infection one month ago. The previous history revealed an adenocarcinoma with malignant pleural effusion on the right lung (stage IV, T4N1M1) 3 months ago. Histopathologic findings showed tumor cells infiltrated throughout the dermis, forming focal glandular structures. We think that the case was the isotopic response in the form of an occurrence of a new skin disorder at the site of another unrelated and already healed skin disease. Many cases of isotopic response have been reported in Korean literature such as lichen planus, granuloma annulare, benign fibrous histiocytoma and reactive perforating collagenosis occurring on the healed site of herpes zoster infection. This is the first report of cutaneous metastatic carcinoma as an isotopic response in Korea.

Keyword

Cutaneous metastasis; Herpes zoster; Isotopic response

MeSH Terms

Adenocarcinoma
Aged
Dermis
Granuloma Annulare
Herpes Zoster
Histiocytoma, Benign Fibrous
Humans
Lichen Planus
Lung
Pleural Effusion, Malignant
Skin
Skin Diseases
Thorax