Skin metastasis: A rare localization from laryngeal carcinoma and overview of similar cases

Abstract

Cutaneous metastases from carcinoma of the larynx are very rare. Distant metastases in squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx have an incidence of 6.5-7.2% and most commonly involve the lungs, liver and bone. Metastases to the skin are exceedingly rare. We observed a 75-year-old Iranian patient with squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx who developed a subcutaneous nodule on the buttock. It was found to be a metastatic tumor from the laryngeal cancer, histopathologically. Skin metastases may represent the first clinical evidence of impending locoregional recurrence, suggest distant metastatic spread, or rarely, be the first sign of ′silent′ laryngeal tumor. They are usually considered a poor prognostic sign and most often affect the supradiaphragmatic area, i.e. the head, neck, thorax or upper extremities. From stand point of topography, buttock metastasis is exceptional.

Keywords

• <i>Buttock
• cutaneous metastasis
• laryngeal carcinoma </i>