Inguinal nodal metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of unknown primary (CUP) detected 7 years before the diagnosis of vulvar squamous cell carcinoma: A case report

Abstract

Objective: Metastatic squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of inguinal lymph node region with unknown origin is a rare condition. A patient was diagnosed to have vulvar SCC 7 years after the initial diagnosis of inguinal nodal metastatic SCC of unknown primary. Case report: A 59-year-old woman with metastatic SCC of unknown origin in the right inguinal lymph node underwent tumor resection and no evidence of residual disease or possible tumor origin was detected after the surgery and a comprehensive work-up. Seven years later, she was diagnosed to have invasive right vulvar SCC with right pelvic lymph node metastasis. We performed a series of tests to evaluate the relationship between these two events. Conclusion: According to our investigation, the possible relationship between the two events could not be ruled out. This case emphasizes the possibility of late recurrence and the importance of long-term follow up for patients with isolated nodal CUP.

Keywords

• Cancer of unknown primary
• Inguinal lymph node
• Inguinal nodal squamous cell carcinoma
• Vulvar squamous cell carcinoma