Pleural mesothelioma with cutaneous extension to chest wall scars.
BACKGROUND
Cutaneous mesothelioma is rare but may occur following local surgical procedures for visceral mesothelioma or as a metastasis.


METHODS
A patient with pleural mesothelioma, who developed papules within chest wall scars, 14 and 15 months after pleural biopsy and thoracentesis, respectively, is reported.


RESULTS
Histopathology showed an epithelioid tumor forming tubulopapillary and glandular structures. The diagnosis of mesothelioma was confirmed with immunohistochemistry. Tumor cells stained characteristically for low-molecular-weight cytokeratins 5/6, calretinin, and vimentin and were negative for mucicarmine, carcinoembryonic antigen, thyroid transcription factor 1, prostate-specific antigen, gross cystic disease fluid protein, S-100, factor VIII, and CD31.


CONCLUSIONS
Histologically, mesothelioma may resemble a primary adnexal neoplasm, metastatic adenocarcinoma, or angiosarcoma. Immunohistochemistry can clarify the diagnosis. Clinicians should be aware of the varied presentations of mesothelioma, as cutaneous presentations are becoming increasingly common.
Shieh
Sherry
S
Department of Dermatology, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY 14263, USA.
Grassi
Marcelle
M
Schwarz
James K
JK
Cheney
Richard T
RT
D000368:Aged; D002921:Cicatrix / Q000473:pathology*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008654:Mesothelioma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000556:secondary*; D010997:Pleural Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D035441:Thoracic Wall / Q000473:pathology*