Cutaneous metastasis of neuroendocrine carcinoma of uterine origin

J Cutan Pathol. 1993 Oct;20(5):455-8. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0560.1993.tb00671.x.

Abstract

We report a case of a 33-year-old woman who presented with the rapid development of multiple dermal and subcutaneous nodules on the chest, back, abdomen, axilla, neck, and scalp. These nodules were firm, tender, and non-ulcerated and measured from 0.2 to 1.2 cm in diameter. A punch biopsy of one of the subcutaneous nodules in the scalp showed a poorly differentiated carcinoma in the reticular dermis with light microscopic, immunohistochemical, and ultrastructural features supporting neuroendocrine differentiation. The past medical history was significant for a recent total abdominal hysterectomy for carcinoma of the cervix at another hospital, originally characterized as a poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma of the cervix and lower uterine segment. Review of the microscopic slides of the uterine neoplasm revealed features suggesting a more appropriate classification as a primary neuroendocrine carcinoma; this was subsequently confirmed by immunophenotyping and ultrastructural evaluation. This is the first reported case of a uterine neuroendocrine carcinoma metastasizing exclusively to the skin. It further illustrates the important contribution of dermatopathology to the understanding of a systemic pathologic process.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Biopsy
  • Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine / metabolism
  • Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine / pathology
  • Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine / secondary*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Microscopy, Electron
  • Scalp / pathology
  • Skin / pathology
  • Skin Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Skin Neoplasms / pathology
  • Skin Neoplasms / secondary*
  • Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / pathology
  • Uterine Neoplasms / pathology*