Cutaneous metastasis of a hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma-unusual presentation

Cutaneous metastasis are uncommon and account for only 2% of all skin cancers, but are extremely rare in hypopharyngeal carcinomas. Although often associated with advanced cancer, cutaneous metastasis can be the first indication of relapse or treatment failure. Additionally, the clinical presentation is widely variable, which can make an early diagnosis difficult. New skin lesions should be evaluated in cancer patients to rule out metastases. Herein, we present a patient with an unusual cutaneous metastasis as the first sign of recurrence of a hypopharyngeal carcinoma.

Case for diagnosis. Suppurative nodule or something deeper?

The authors report the case of a 62-year-old man with a history of total left hip arthroplasty nine years previously presenting with a large infiltrated plaque on the posterior area of the left thigh with three months of evolution without systemic symptoms or elevated inflammatory markers. Computed tomography of the left lower limb revealed a 12-centimeter linear extension of the lesion to the posterior part of the left proximal femur. Prosthesis joint infection, although rare, is a surgical complication to be taken into account, even if the surgery was performed many years before.