Gastric Carcinoma Presenting with Cellulitis-Like Cutaneous Metastasis

KF Foo, M Tao, EH Tan
Correspondence: Dr Foo Kian Fong, dmofkf@nccs.com.sg

ABSTRACT
Introduction A case of carcinoma of the stomach presenting with cellulitis-like cutaneous metastasis is reported.
Clinical Picture This patient was diagnosed to have early stage carcinoma of the prostate (T1bN0M0), which was treated with radiotherapy and hormonal therapy. He presented with an erythematous area of induration over the right neck a few weeks after the completion of radical radiotherapy. The CT scan of the neck showed features suggestive of cellulitis of the right cervical region. Due to the lack of response to intravenous antibiotics, a fine needle aspiration biopsy of the indurated area was done. This confirmed the presence of adenocarcinoma. Due to the presence of iron-deficiency anaemia and the positive occult blood test in the stool, an upper gastrointestinal endoscopy was done. This confirmed the presence of adenocarcinoma of the stomach of the signet-ring cell type.
Outcome He had a rapid downhill course after the diagnosis and died four weeks after the diagnosis was made.
Conclusion Carcinoma of the stomach can rarely present with cutaneous metastasis as a cellulitis-like picture.

Keywords: Gastric adenocarcinoma, cellulitis, cutaneous metastasis
Singapore Med J 2002; 43(1): 37-38