Extensive cutaneous metastasis of transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder

Abstract

Cutaneous metastasis of bladder carcinoma is extremely rare. Iatrogenic implantations have been the main cause in the majority of cases of transitional cell carcinoma with cutaneous metastasis. Otherwise, primary cutaneous metastasis is accepted as the late manifestation of systemic spread. The present paper describes a case of relatively early and extensive skin metastasis of transitional cell carcinoma in a 78-year-old man. The patient had a histopathological diagnosis of poorly differentiated (grade III) muscle invasive transitional cell carcinoma with a staging of T2NOMO 6 months prior to presenting. He presented to our outpatient clinic with a 3-month history of skin lesions as multiple, rubbery subcutaneous nodules. Radiological reinvestigation revealed no other metastatic site (including bone and lung), except for a metastatic nodule in the liver. The present paper reports an interesting and rare case of extensive skin metastasis of transitional cell carcinoma as the primary complaint.