Skin relapse from cervical cancer.

BACKGROUND

Cutaneous lymphangitis carcinomatosis from cervical carcinoma is a very rare form of tumor metastatization; only anecdotal cases are reported in the literature. Most of the patients with skin relapse experienced metastasis as a single or multiple nodules.

CASE

A case of cutaneous lymphangitis carcinomatosis mimicking contact dermatitis was diagnosed at our institution in a patient affected by cervical carcinoma stage IIB. Palliative chemotherapy with paclitaxel was started and the patient experienced complete clinical response. The hypothetical mechanism of spread and the unusual manifestation of relapse are described.

CONCLUSION

In a woman with a history of cervical cancer, a diffuse pruritic skin eruption should alert the clinician to the possibility of cutaneous carcinomatous lymphangitis. If a lymphangitis carcinomatosis is diagnosed, systemic intravenous chemotherapy should be considered.