Prostate small cell carcinoma and skin metastases: a rare entity.
OBJECTIVE
To report a rare case of small cell carcinoma of the prostate with unusual skin metastasis.


METHODS
A 60-year-old was evaluated for difficulty in urinating. Abdominal computed tomography scans revealed a prostatic mass invading the surrounding tissues and multiple perirectal, periprostatic, para-aortic and pericaval lymph nodes. Needle biopsy specimens showed both small cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma. He was treated with combination chemotherapy: cisplatin and etoposide and bilateral orchiectomy. After six cycles of the chemotherapy, disease progressed and the patient did not respond to salvage therapy; hence, palliative care was instituted. During the follow-up, papillary lesions were observed in the scrotal skin; biopsy showed metastatic small cell carcinoma.


CONCLUSIONS
Small cell carcinoma of the prostate is an aggressive disease with a highly metastatic potential; but skin metastases are very uncommon. It has poor prognosis despite therapy. Management resembles that of small cell carcinoma of the lung.
Yildirim
Yesim
Y
Department of Medical Oncology, Baskent University, Ankara, Turkey. dryesimyildirim@yahoo.com
Akcay
Yesim
Y
Ozyilkan
Ozgur
O
Celasun
Bulent
B
D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D018288:Carcinoma, Small Cell / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000556:secondary*; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005047:Etoposide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000556:secondary*; D014750:Vincristine / Q000008:administration & dosage
D014750:Vincristine; D005047:Etoposide; D004317:Doxorubicin; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D002945:Cisplatin