Fine needle aspiration cytology of metastatic skin nodules. A report of 2 cases.
BACKGROUND
Skin is an uncommon site for metastatic deposits from internal malignancy. The scalp as a metastatic site is uncommon. Metastatic skin/scalp nodules can be diagnosed accurately by fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC). However, few reports exist on the FNAC diagnosis of metastatic skin/scalp nodules. Metastatic skin nodules may mimic primary skin tumors, or vice versa, and some primary skin tumors may be mistaken for metastatic skin deposits.


METHODS
In case 1 a 60-year-old male presented with nodules on the scalp, back and upper extremity. The scalp nodule was noticed first, followed by the ones on the back and upper extremity. FNAC of nodules on the scalp and upper extremities showed deposits of carcinoma. The nodule on the back was excised. In case 2 a 66-year-old female presented with a nodule on the scalp. She also had enlarged bilateral cervical lymph nodes. FNAC of the scalp nodule and cervical lymph nodes revealed the cytologic features of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.


CONCLUSIONS
Metastatic cutaneous/staneous/subcutaneous deposits can pose diagnostic hurdles in the absence ofprevious or simultaneous malignancy. FNAC is a quick and cost-effective tool for the evaluation of such nodules.
Bhanot
Umesh Kumar
UK
Department of Pathology, Nepal Medical College, Kathmandu, Nepal. umesh.bhanot@medizin.uni-ulm.de
Rauniyar
Shyam Kumar
SK
Mital
Vireshwar Prasad
VP
D000368:Aged; D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000556:secondary*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012535:Scalp; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary*