Cutaneous Carcinosarcoma with Metastasis to the Parotid Gland

Abstract

Cutaneous carcinosarcoma is a rare malignancy that exhibits both mesenchymal and epithelial components. It is similar to nonmelanoma skin cancers in terms of risk and prognostic factors. However, these malignancies are known to have a propensity for local recurrence and metastasis, even with adequate resection margins. Here we report a case of metastatic cutaneous carcinosarcoma to the parotid gland and review the relevant literature.

Cutaneous pilomatrical carcinosarcoma: a case report with molecular analysis and literature review

“…There is controversy regarding how CS develops [25][26][27]. The collision tumor theory suggests that two independent tumors collide, while the composition theory suggests that the mesenchymal component results from pseudo-sarcomatous reaction within the epithelial malignancy.…”

Mixed Mullerian Tumour (Carcinosarcoma) - A Rare Cervical Tumour

“…Carcinosarcomas are tumours can arise in diverse organs, such as the skin, salivary glands, lungs, esophagus, pancreas, colon, uterus ovaries 5,6,7,8,9,10,11 .…”

“…Four man hypotheses have been proposed for the cellular origin of carcinosarcoma, based largely on the pathology of the diseases 5,7 . First, the collision of two independent tumours resulting in a single neoplasm, based on the observation that skin cancer and superficial malignant fibrous histocytomas are commonly seen in patients with sun-damaged skin, second, the composition hypothesis, which suggests that the masenchymal component represents a pseudosarcomatous reaction to the epithelial malignancy, third, the combination hypothesis, which suggests that both the epithelial and mesenchymal components of the tumour arises from a common pluripotential stem cell that undergoes divergent differentiation and fourth, the conversion or divergence hypothesis, which argues that the sarcomatous component of the tumour represents a metaplastic sarcomatous transformation of the epithelial component.…”

“…First, the collision of two independent tumours resulting in a single neoplasm, based on the observation that skin cancer and superficial malignant fibrous histocytomas are commonly seen in patients with sun-damaged skin, second, the composition hypothesis, which suggests that the masenchymal component represents a pseudosarcomatous reaction to the epithelial malignancy, third, the combination hypothesis, which suggests that both the epithelial and mesenchymal components of the tumour arises from a common pluripotential stem cell that undergoes divergent differentiation and fourth, the conversion or divergence hypothesis, which argues that the sarcomatous component of the tumour represents a metaplastic sarcomatous transformation of the epithelial component. Despite the rinsing uncertainty on the mechanisms that generate these tumours, recent immuno-histochemical, ultrastructural and molecular genetic studies suggest and favor the notion monoclonality in carcinosarcoma 5,7 . In addition, identical p53 and KRAs mutations have been identified in both epithelial and mesenchymal components of carcinosarcoma, findings that suggest an early alteration in the histogenesis of the tumour with late transformation or degeneration of the eplithelial component into the sarcomatous component 7 .…”

“…Despite the rinsing uncertainty on the mechanisms that generate these tumours, recent immuno-histochemical, ultrastructural and molecular genetic studies suggest and favor the notion monoclonality in carcinosarcoma 5,7 . In addition, identical p53 and KRAs mutations have been identified in both epithelial and mesenchymal components of carcinosarcoma, findings that suggest an early alteration in the histogenesis of the tumour with late transformation or degeneration of the eplithelial component into the sarcomatous component 7 .…”