[Cutaneous metastases from transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder producing beta-HCG].
In spite of the high incidence of transitional cell carcinoma, cutaneous metastases are infrequent, especially when they are the first sign of metastatic spread, with a low survival rate. Thirty five per cent of transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder have ectopic beta- human chorionic gonadotropin (beta-HCG) production. It has been related with high grade tumors, advanced stage, metastatic disease, radioresistent tumors and low survival rate because of its effect as a growth modulator with a probably antagonist action in the apoptotic cascade. We present a thirty six years old woman affected by a transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder producing beta-HCG that showed two cutaneous metastases as first sign of metastatic disease. The exceptional coincidence of these two circumstances announced a very aggressive tumor behaviour and bad prognostic, with a quickly multiple metastatic dissemination including a pericardic metastases.
Servicio de Urología, Hospital San Pedro de Alcántara, Cáceres, España. mpaski10@yahoo.es
Miguel
M
Pascual Samaniego
Manuel A
MA
Ruiz Serrano
M Angeles
MA
González Núñez
Inmaculada
I
Bravo Fernández
Juan A
JA
Ramos Martín
Antonio
A
García González
D000328:Adult; D002295:Carcinoma, Transitional Cell / Q000378:metabolism / Q000556:secondary*; D018997:Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human / Q000096:biosynthesis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000556:secondary*; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*
D018997:Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human