Cutaneous Seeding of Glioblastoma: A Case Report and Literature Review

Am J Dermatopathol. 2024 Oct 1;46(10):685-689. doi: 10.1097/DAD.0000000000002748. Epub 2024 Jun 6.

Abstract

We present the case of a 61-year-old male patient with a history of intracranial IDH-wildtype glioblastoma with an isolated cutaneous metastasis within the previous surgical site scar. The cytomorphology of the cutaneous deposits was reminiscent of metastatic melanoma, which is a differential diagnostic pitfall. The tumor molecular characteristics are described, as these have become essential diagnostic criteria for many central nervous system tumors, along with a discussion of the role of immunohistochemical markers and potential pitfalls in the differential diagnosis of melanoma and poorly differentiated carcinoma. We discuss the biology of metastatic glioblastoma and provide a focused literature review of previous glioblastomas with tumor cell seeding within prior surgical scars.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Biomarkers, Tumor / analysis
  • Brain Neoplasms* / pathology
  • Brain Neoplasms* / secondary
  • Cicatrix / pathology
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Glioblastoma* / pathology
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Male
  • Melanoma / pathology
  • Melanoma / secondary
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasm Seeding*
  • Skin Neoplasms* / pathology
  • Skin Neoplasms* / secondary

Substances

  • Biomarkers, Tumor