Cutaneous nodule as an indicator of distant metastasis in postoperative buccal mucosa carcinoma

Head and neck malignancy has a significant cancer burden in India, with the oral cavity being one of the most commonly affected sites. Despite definitive treatment, recurrence rates remain high, with distant metastasis occurring in 18% of cases with the lung being the most common site. Skin metastasis is rare, with an incidence of <2.5%, and its presentation as the first sign of distant disease is exceptionally uncommon. The occurrence of new skin lesions in patients with head and neck cancer mandates extensive evaluation, as skin metastasis portends disease progression and poor prognosis. We report a case of postdefinitive treatment of carcinoma buccal mucosa presented with a cutaneous nodule as the first sign of distant spread.