Cutaneous metastasis resembling acute dermatitis in patient with advanced gastric cancer

Clin Exp Dermatol. 2007 May;32(3):284-6. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2230.2007.02361.x. Epub 2007 Jan 30.

Abstract

The most common metastatic sites from gastric cancer are the liver, intra-abdominal lymph nodes, ovary and peritoneal cavity. Cutaneous metastasis of gastric cancer is rare, and most cutaneous metastases are typically solitary, nodular, have a firm consistency, and are red or hyperpigmented. Thus, cutaneous metastasis is easily distinguished from other skin disease. We report a case of a 60-year-old woman with cutaneous metastasis of gastric cancer, whose facial skin showed painless pruritic eczema, resembling acute dermatitis. She had earlier undergone a total gastrectomy for advanced gastric cancer in our hospital. After 14 months, she developed eczematous facial lesions; the presumptive diagnosis was acute dermatitis. However, skin biopsy unexpectedly revealed cutaneous metastasis of gastric cancer. After 6 months of systemic chemotherapy with capecitabine and cisplatin, the cutaneous metastasis was markedly improved and a clinically complete remission was accomplished.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Capecitabine
  • Cisplatin / therapeutic use
  • Deoxycytidine / analogs & derivatives
  • Deoxycytidine / therapeutic use
  • Dermatitis / pathology*
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Female
  • Fluorouracil / analogs & derivatives
  • Fluorouracil / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Skin Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Skin Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Skin Neoplasms / secondary*
  • Stomach Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Deoxycytidine
  • Capecitabine
  • Cisplatin
  • Fluorouracil