A retrospective analysis of unusual metastasis from carcinoma oesophagus to subcutaneous tissue

ABSTRACT Introduction: Oesophageal carcinoma is the ninth most common cancer worldwide. Skin and subcutaneous soft tissue are rare sites of metastases, constituting only 1% of sites of distant metastases. The location of subcutaneous metastasis from oesophageal carcinoma is variable. Material and Method: This is a single-institutional retrospective study done over 10 years. 798 patients with carcinoma oesophagus reported to our department over 10 years and distance metastasis was seen in 32% of the total treated patients. Results: The incidence of subcutaneous metastasis of all treated cases in our institution over a decade is one case per 1,000 people year. The site of subcutaneous metastasis varied widely from common sites like the chest wall, back, and abdomen to rare sites like the nose, axillary region, scalp, and great toe. None of the patients survived more than a year after development of subcutaneous metastasis and the median overall survival recorded was five months. Discussion: In a large cohort of 838 patients with oesophageal cancer done by LE Quint et al., approximately 20% of the patients showed distant metastasis, with a significantly lower rate of 1% for metastatic lesions involving the skin and the liver and lungs being the most common. Since the incidence of subcutaneous metastasis in carcinoma oesophagus is rarely seen, and we got the incidence of 1% as well. Conclusion: Subcutaneously are most likely missed if the patient is not being examined thoroughly. Only after the histopathological or cytological confirmation was the diagnosis of subcutaneous metastasis in our patients made.