Metastatic Esophageal Adenocarcinoma Presenting as Neck Dermal Metastasis

Abstract

Dermal metastasis is a rare manifestation of visceral disease, and esophageal adenocarcinomas represent around only 1% of primaries that present with cutaneous metastasis. In this case, we discuss a patient who presented with a painless submental mass and extensive right neck cutaneous induration and erythema. Core needle biopsy demonstrated poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma. Blood testing also demonstrated elevated carbohydrate antigen 19-9, carcinoembryonic antigen, and alkaline phosphatase. PET/CT followed by esophagoscopy led to the diagnosis of esophageal signet-cell adenocarcinoma primary with isolated dermal metastasis. The patient was started on palliative radiotherapy and passed away two months later from a suspected thoracic fistula and hydropneumothorax.