title: Multiple nodules on the face and trunk in metastatic adenocarcinoma of unknown primary origin.
abstract: Metastatic cancer of unknown primary (CUP) may unexpectedly manifest on the skin and subcutaneous tissue, prompting the patient to first visit a dermatologist. We describe an interesting case of cutaneous metastases from poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma of an unknown primary site in a 57-year-old man. The CUP had an unusually long period of indolence between presentation as a solitary axillary lymph node metastasis and rapid cutaneous dissemination. The possible causes of such a presentation are reviewed, and the management is briefly discussed. Diagnosis of unusual cutaneous manifestations of occult systemic malignancies could pose a diagnostic challenge to dermatologists.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Father Muller Medical College and Hospital, Kankanady, Mangalore 575002, Karnataka, India. shireenseq@gmail.com
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Furtado
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Bhat
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sukumar
authors.forename: S G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Krishnamurthy
authors.forename: S D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Rao
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Nandakishore
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000556:secondary*; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001365:Axilla; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009382:Neoplasms, Unknown Primary / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D010166:Palliative Care; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000556:secondary*
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor