Epidermotropic metastases from internal carcinomas

Abstract

Four cases of epidermotropically metastatic carcinoma are reported. One of them originated from a breast adenocarcinoma; in two other cases, the primary tumor was located in the large intestine; and, in the fourth case, the primary malignancy was a laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma. Clinically, the cutaneous metastases were nodular lesions and histologically, in addition to the involvement of the dermis by malignant cells, in three cases there was intraepidermal involvement by glandular structures. In the fourth case, the cutaneous metastatic tumor cells showed striking "folliculotropism." We review the literature of epidermotropically metastatic carcinoma and discuss its differential diagnosis.