Gastric cancer with carcinoma erysipeloides caused by spontaneous thoracic duct rupture: report of a case.

A case of extensive skin metastasis (carcinoma erysipeloides) resulting from spontaneous rupture of the metastasized Virchow lymph node in a 53-year-old woman is herein reported. Imaging evidence attributing this metastasis to spontaneous rupture of the fragile thoracic duct at the supraclavicular fossa is presented. The patient, who had already undergone gastric resection more than 6 years previously because of advanced gastric cancer, died approximately 4.5 months after the occurrence of lymphorrhea in her neck since the anticancer chemotherapy administered demonstrated little or no effect.