Cutaneous Metastases: An Update on Their Origins and Clinical Presentations
- 1Department of Dermatology and Venereology, İstanbul University, İstanbul Faculty of Medicine, İstanbul, Türkiye
- 2Department of Pathology, İstanbul University, İstanbul Faculty of Medicine, İstanbul, Türkiye
Abstract
Introduction: Cutaneous metastases can originate from different organ systems and reach the skin through various pathways. Hence, they can present in a wide range of clinical patterns.
Objectives: We aimed to evaluate the clinical features of cutaneous metastases in a large, well-documented series and compare them with the literature.
Methods: Patients diagnosed with cutaneous metastasis in a 20-year period were evaluated in this retrospective single-center study. Metastases of hematologic malignancies, melanoma, and major epithelial malignancies of skin were excluded.
Results: In all, 105 patients were included in the study. The most common primary origin was breast (n=42), followed by oral and nasal mucosal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) (n=7), and gastric cancer (n=6). Chest was the most commonly involved site (n=51), followed by head (n=26). Breast cancer and mucosal SCC tended to metastasize locally, while colon, bladder, lung, and gastric cancers had higher rates of distant metastasis. Fourteen patients (13.3%) presented with multiple clinical patterns. Patients most commonly presented with nodules (n=81), although sclerodermoid (n=12), carcinoma erysipeloides (n=11), and erythema annulare centrifugum-like (EAC-like) (n=9) presentations were observed at a higher rate than the literature. Among various nodular patterns, multiple isolated nodules were the most common. Ulceration was observed at the highest rate in the literature (31.4%), and was mostly associated with nodular metastases.
Conclusions: Cutaneous metastases can have a variety of presentations, sometimes with multiple patterns observed simultaneously. In the differential diagnosis of persistent EAC-like lesions, circumscribed sclerodermoid lesions, and ulcerated nodules not otherwise explained, cutaneous metastases should be considered.
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BibTeX
@article{kutlay2026cutaneous,
title = {{Cutaneous Metastases: An Update on Their Origins and Clinical Presentations}},
author = {Armağan Kutlay and Şule Öztürk Sarı and Nesimi Büyükbabani and Can Baykal},
journal = {Dermatology Practical \& Conceptual},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.5826/dpc.1604a7227},
url = {https://doi.org/10.5826/dpc.1604a7227},
note = {CC BY-NC},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Cutaneous Metastases: An Update on Their Origins and Clinical Presentations
AU - Armağan Kutlay
AU - Şule Öztürk Sarı
AU - Nesimi Büyükbabani
AU - Can Baykal
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/29
JO - Dermatology Practical & Conceptual
DO - 10.5826/dpc.1604a7227
UR - https://doi.org/10.5826/dpc.1604a7227
AB - Introduction: Cutaneous metastases can originate from different organ systems and reach the skin through various pathways. Hence, they can present in a wide range of clinical patterns. Objectives: We aimed to evaluate the clinical features of cutaneous metastases in a large, well-documented series and compare them with the literature. Methods: Patients diagnosed with cutaneous metastasis in a 20-year period were evaluated in this retrospective single-center study. Metastases of hematologic malignancies, melanoma, and major epithelial malignancies of skin were excluded. Results: In all, 105 patients were included in the study. The most common primary origin was breast (n=42), followed by oral and nasal mucosal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) (n=7), and gastric cancer (n=6). Chest was the most commonly involved site (n=51), followed by head (n=26). Breast cancer and mucosal SCC tended to metastasize locally, while colon, bladder, lung, and gastric cancers had higher rates of distant metastasis. Fourteen patients (13.3%) presented with multiple clinical patterns. Patients most commonly presented with nodules (n=81), although sclerodermoid (n=12), carcinoma erysipeloides (n=11), and erythema annulare centrifugum-like (EAC-like) (n=9) presentations were observed at a higher rate than the literature. Among various nodular patterns, multiple isolated nodules were the most common. Ulceration was observed at the highest rate in the literature (31.4%), and was mostly associated with nodular metastases. Conclusions: Cutaneous metastases can have a variety of presentations, sometimes with multiple patterns observed simultaneously. In the differential diagnosis of persistent EAC-like lesions, circumscribed sclerodermoid lesions, and ulcerated nodules not otherwise explained, cutaneous metastases should be considered.
SN - 2160-9381
ER -