Alopecia neoplastica—a rare form of cutaneous metastasis

Baum, Eric M.; Omura, Emily F.; Payne, R. Rex; Little, Walter P.

doi:10.1016/s0190-9622(81)80201-0

Cited by 24 publications

(23 citation statements)

References 26 publications

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“…It may be confused clinically with alopecia areata or a scarring alopecia. 127 Histologically, it mimics the histological features of en cuirasse type carcinoma with single files of tumor cells between thickened collagen bundles. 126 Some skin metastases may appear as nonulcerative papules, erythematous infiltrating plaques (laryngeal epidermoid carcinoma), 40 several alopecic patches resembling alopecia areata (placental site trophoblastic tumor) 95 and large cauliflower-like papillomatous lesions (gastric carcinoma).…”

Section: Clinical Presentations Of the Skin Metastasesmentioning

confidence: 91%

“…Alopecia neoplastica occurs as oval plaques or patches of the scalp. It may be confused clinically with alopecia areata or a scarring alopecia 127 . Histologically, it mimics the histological features of en cuirasse type carcinoma with single files of tumor cells between thickened collagen bundles 126…”

Section: Clinical Presentations Of the Skin Metastasesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Occasionally, the patients may present with a firm, scar‐like area in the skin. When this occurs on the scalp, hair may be lost, and the clinical appearance may mimic alopecia areata, except that the skin exhibits marked induration on palpation (alopecia neoplastica) 127 . Skin metastasis of breast cancer may present as miliary‐sized skin‐colored solid papules.…”

Section: Skin Metastases Of Carcinomasmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Skin metastasis: a pathologist's perspective

2010

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Skin metastasis is defined as the spread of malignant cells from a primary malignancy to the skin. It is one manifestation of systemic spread of cancer. The tumor cells originate either from an internal malignancy or from a primary skin cancer. This study presents a literature review concerning these issues as well as this author's experience encountered throughout 19 years of surgical pathology and dermatopathology practice. Several conclusions are evident. Generally, skin metastases are encountered in 0.7-9% of all patients with cancer and as such the skin is an uncommon site of metastatic disease when compared to other organs. There is usually a long-time lag between the diagnosis of the primary malignancy and the recognition of the skin metastases. However, these metastases may be the first indication of the clinically silent visceral malignancies. The regional distribution of the skin metastasis, although not always predictable, is related to the location of the primary malignancy and the mechanism of metastatic spread. The relative frequency of skin metastasis correlates with the type of primary cancer, which occurs in each sex. For instance, lung and breast carcinomas are the most common primaries that send skin metastasis in men and women, respectively. The head and neck region and the anterior chest are the areas of greatest predilection in men. The anterior chest wall and the abdomen are the most commonly involved sites in women. Skin metastases usually appear as non-specific groups of discrete firm painless nodules that emerge rapidly without any explanation. They vary in size from so tiny as to be of 'miliary lesions' to as large as 'Hen's egg size'. Some skin metastasis may mimic specific dermatological conditions such as cutaneous cyst, dermatofibroma, pyogenic granuloma, hemangioma, papular eruptions, herpes zoster eruptions, rapidly infiltrating plaques, alopecic patches, cellulitis and erysipelas. Histologically, the skin metastases usually show features reminiscent of the primary malignancy, but with variable degrees of differentiation. Molecularly, skin metastasis is an organized, non-random and organ-selective process orchestrated by interaction among several heterogeneous molecules, which are largely unknown. Metastasis to the skin is often a pre-terminal event that heralds poor outcome.

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Section: Clinical Presentations Of the Skin Metastasesmentioning

confidence: 91%

Section: Clinical Presentations Of the Skin Metastasesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Skin Metastases Of Carcinomasmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Skin metastasis: a pathologist's perspective

2010

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“…This leads to the formation of a chest wall that resembles a metal breastplate of a cuirassier (a mounted cavalry soldier) [2,4]. In a case of Paget's disease, tumor cells infiltrate the epidermis directly with a typical pagetoid spreading [7,16]. Alopecia neoplastica presents as oval plaques or patches on the scalp that may be confused clinically with alopecia areata [7,16].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In a case of Paget's disease, tumor cells infiltrate the epidermis directly with a typical pagetoid spreading [7,16]. Alopecia neoplastica presents as oval plaques or patches on the scalp that may be confused clinically with alopecia areata [7,16]. Breast carcinoma metastases of the scalp usually manifest as cutaneous nodules, although they also manifest less commonly as alopecia neoplastica.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Metastatic breast carcinoma mimicking a sebaceous gland neoplasm: a case report

et al. 2011

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IntroductionBreast cancer is common in women and its metastases involve the skin in approximately one quarter of patients. Accordingly, metastatic breast cancer shown to be cutaneous through histology must be distinguished from a wide variety of other neoplasms as well as the diverse morphologic variants of breast cancer itself.Case presentationWe report the case of a 61-year-old Caucasian woman with cutaneous metastases of a bilateral ductal breast carcinoma that in histopathological examination mimicked an adnexal neoplasm with sebaceous differentiation.ConclusionAgainst the background of metastatic breast carcinoma, dermatopathological considerations of sebaceous differentiation of skin lesions are presented and discussed focusing on the rare differential diagnosis of sebaceous carcinoma of the breast.

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Atlas of Dermatology in Internal Medicine

Saanchez¹

2012

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Alopecia neoplastica—a rare form of cutaneous metastasis

Cited by 24 publications

References 26 publications

Skin metastasis: a pathologist's perspective

Skin metastasis: a pathologist's perspective

Metastatic breast carcinoma mimicking a sebaceous gland neoplasm: a case report

Atlas of Dermatology in Internal Medicine

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