Seeding of cholangiocarcinoma along T-tube tracts

Cutaneous metastasis of cholangiocarcinoma

AIM: To investigate the clinical characteristics and prognostic factors of cutaneous metastasis of cholangiocarcinoma by a retrospective analysis of published cases.

METHODS: An extensive search was conducted in the English literature within the PubMed database using the following keywords: cutaneous metastasis or skin metastasis and cholangiocarcinoma or bile duct. The data of 30 patients from 21 articles from 1978 to 2014 were analyzed. Patient data retrieved from the articles included the following: age, gender, time cutaneous metastasis occurred, number of cutaneous metastases throughout life, sites of initial cutaneous metastasis, anatomic site, pathology and differentiation of cholangiocarcinoma, and immunohistochemical results of the cutaneous metastasis. The assessment of overall survival after cutaneous metastasis (OSCM) was the primary endpoint.

RESULTS: The median age at diagnosis of cutaneous metastasis of cholangiocarcinoma was 60.0 years (range: 35-77). This metastasis showed a predilection towards males, with a male to female ratio of 3.29. In 8 cases (27.6%), skin metastasis was the first sign of cholangiocarcinoma. Additionally, 18 cases (60.0%) manifested single cutaneous metastasis, while 12 cases (40.0%) demonstrated multiple skin metastases. In 50.0% of patients, the metastasis occurred in the drainage region, while 50.0% of patients had distant cutaneous metastases. The scalp was the most frequently involved region of distant skin metastasis, occurring in 36.7% of patients. The median OSCM of cholangiocarcinoma was 4.0 mo. Patient age and cutaneous metastatic sites showed no significant relation with OSCM, while male gender and single metastasis of the skin were associated with a poorer OSCM (hazard ratio: 0.168; P = 0.005, and hazard ratio: 0.296; P = 0.011, respectively).

CONCLUSION: The prognosis of cutaneous metastasis of cholangiocarcinoma is dismal. Both male gender and single skin metastasis are associated with a poorer OSCM.

Cutaneous metastasis from cholangiocarcinoma as the first clinical sign: a report of two cases

Cutaneous metastases from internal malignancies are uncommon. Furthermore, cutaneous metastases from cholangiocarcinoma are extremely rare. Here we report a case of two patients with distant cutaneous metastases of cholangiocarcinoma: 1) a 66-year-old man who presented with a solitary, erythematous nodule on the scalp and 2) a 44-year-old man who presented with multiple, erythematous nodules on the scalp, the chest wall, and the back. In both cases, the erythematous nodules were the first clinical signs of cholangiocarcinoma. Histopathological analyses of skin biopsy specimens of the two patients revealed adenocarcinomas with features similar to the original cholangiocarcinoma. Two cases of cholangiocarcinoma in which metastatic skin nodules appeared as the first sign of the disease are reported here, with a review of the relevant literature.

Cutaneous metastatic cholangiocarcinoma: a report of three cases and review of the literature

Cutaneous metastasis from cholangiocarcinoma is an extremely rare event. Herein, we present three cases with review of the literature. Case 1 is that of a young female with scalp metastasis. Cases 2 and 3 involve cutaneous metastasis to the sites of prior biliary drains, one occurring in a young female with a history of multiple biliary surgeries and one in a male with a history of sclerosing cholangitis. Review of the literature shows that the presentation of cutaneous metastases from cholangiocarcinoma can vary in terms of anatomic location and clinical features. The pathological and immunohistochemical profile of metastatic cholangiocarcinoma can be non-specific, and accurate diagnosis relies in part on clinical correlation. In summary, metastatic disease should always be included in the differential diagnosis of cutaneous lesions in patients with known malignancy.

Hepatobiliary malignancies with cutaneous metastases: an analysis of 8 cases

AIM: To analyze the clinical characteristics and therapeutic outcomes of 8 cases of hepatobiliary malignancies with cutaneous metastases.

METHODS: From June 2006 to June 2009, eight patients with cutaneous metastases from hepatobiliary malignancies were treated at our hospital. By retrospectively reviewing the clinical data for these patients, the clinical characteristics, treatment and prognosis of this disease were summarized.

RESULTS: One patient with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) presenting as obstructive jaundice caused by bile duct tumor thrombi developed cutaneous metastasis at the port site 20 mo after percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD). The patient had survived 16 mo after resection of the port-site tumor and showed no recurrence. One HCC patient developed tumor at the incision site 9 mo after abdominal exploration. After the skin and liver tumors were excised, the patients survived 8 mo. One patient with combined HCC and cholangiocellular carcinoma developed multiple cutaneous metastases of cholangiocellular carcinoma and survived 8 mo. Two patients with cholangiocarcinoma and solitary nodular cutaneous metastasis received skin tumor excision and survived 8 and 10 mo, respectively. Of three patients with cholangiocarcinoma and multiple cutaneous metastases, one received chemotherapy and survived 6 mo, and the other 2 refused any treatment and survived 3 and 4 mo, respectively.

CONCLUSION: Puncture and operation procedures should be improved to avoid seeding metastasis. In patients with hepatobiliary malignancies, solitary nodular cutaneous metastasis has a better prognosis, while multiple cutaneous metastases have a worse prognosis.

[Cholangiocarcinoma with distant cutaneous metastases]

Cutaneous metastases rarely develop in patients with internal malignancy. Cholangiocarcinoma, a malignant cancer of the bile duct, is a relatively rare adenocarcinoma and has a poor prognosis. Few reports have mentioned cutaneous metastases of cholangiocarcinoma, and the most of them were due to direct tumor seeding by percutaneous procedures. Herein, we report a case of cholangiocarcinoma with distant cutaneous metastases in a 60-year-old man.

Multiple cutaneous metastases from hilar cholangiocarcinoma

The most common metastatic sites of cholangiocarcinoma are the retroperitoneal lymph nodes, peritoneum, liver and lungs, and cutaneous metastases of cholangiocarcinoma are rare. Although cutaneous metastases of internal malignancies most commonly present clinically as nontender nodules appearing in a particular area of body, other presentations can occur. Cutaneous metastases of cholangiocarcinoma can appear as a solitary tumour at the therapeutic drainage site. We report a 60-year-old man with unusual cutaneous metastases from hilar cholangiocarcinoma, which presented as multiple indurated plaques and papules on the anterior chest.

Scalp ulcer as first sign of cholangiocarcinoma

Metastases from distant primary tumors are rarely the first indicators of cancer. However, cutaneous metastases are not uncommon in cases of internal malignancy. This article describes the case of a 65-year-old man with cutaneous metastasis of cholangiocarcinoma who presented with a scalp ulcer as the only initial sign. This is only the third reported case of cholangiocarcinoma with distant cutaneous metastasis.

Distant cutaneous metastases of cholangiocarcinoma: report of two cases of a previously unreported condition

Cutaneous metastases develop in 2% to 10% of patients with internal malignancies. Here we present two cases of bile duct carcinoma with distant cutaneous metastases, a condition previously unreported. Scalp tumors were the initial presentation in both cases.