Non-umbilical Cutaneous Metastasis of Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma as the First Clinical Manifestation: A Case Report

• Published in: The Korean journal of gastroenterology Vol. 68; no. 4; pp. 221 - 224
• Main Authors: Moon, Ji In, Park, Ji Young, Jeon, Tae Joo, Choi, Jung Min, Shin, Won Chang, Sung, June Min, Kim, Young Moon, Kim, Hyun-Jung
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Jin Publishing & Printing Co 01.10.2016; 대한소화기학회
• Subjects: Cutaneous; Immunohistochemistry; Neoplasm metastasis; Pancreatic neoplasms; 내과학
• ISSN: 1598-9992; 2233-6869
• DOI: 10.4166/kjg.2016.68.4.221

Non-umbilical cutaneous metastases from pancreatic adenocarcinomas are extremely rare. Only a few cases have been reported in the literature. An 83-year-old Korean woman, with no previous medical history, presented with a painful nodule on her scalp. Histologic examination of the nodule revealed a metastatic adenocarcinoma, and immunohistochemical staining was positive for cytokeratin (CK) 7 and CK 19. These findings were consistent with a metastatic carcinoma of pancreatic origin. An abdominal computed tomography scan identified a mass on the pancreatic head and multiple enlarged lymph nodes. Pathological examination of an endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle biopsy of the pancreatic mass determined that it was a poorly differentiated carcinoma. The patient refused any treatment owing to her old age and short life expectancy. Four months later, the disease progressed rapidly, and the patient died. (Korean J Gastroenterol 2016;68:221-224)