A Rare Case of Ulceronodular Cutaneous Metastases from Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma
Nasopharyngeal cancer is a rare cancer in most part of the world, but commonly seen in natives of southern China, Southeast Asia, the Arctic, and the Middle East/North Africa. It is sensitive to radiotherapy and chemotherapy and is usually treated by chemoradiation. It is highly predisposed to nod...
Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Published: |
JCDR Research and Publications Private Limited
2017-12-01
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Series: | Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research |
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | https://jcdr.net/articles/PDF/11016/32832-F(SHU)_PF1(AD_GG)_PFA(MJ_AP).pdf |
Summary: | Nasopharyngeal cancer is a rare cancer in most part of the world, but commonly seen in natives of southern China, Southeast
Asia, the Arctic, and the Middle East/North Africa. It is sensitive to radiotherapy and chemotherapy and is usually treated by
chemoradiation. It is highly predisposed to nodal and distant metastasis. Still, cutaneous metastasis is rarely seen. Here in this
report, we present the case of nasopharyngeal carcinoma with an ulceronodular type of cutaneous metastasis, presenting six
years after the initial diagnosis without any visceral metastases. Another feature noted in our patient was the sensitivity to low dose
radiotherapy both for bulky primary disease which was progressive on 5Fluorouracil (5FU) and cisplatin based chemotherapy, and
subsequent metastases. Theoretically, skin metastases can occur through spread via dermal lymphatics or when the pulmonary
filtration is bypassed via the vertebral venous system and Batson’s plexus allowing skin implantation. Further, resistance to
chemotherapy and high sensitivity to radiation suggests heterogeneity among nasopharyngeal cancers with intrinsic molecular
subtype. The good response of metastatic disease to short course radiation suggests that patients with cutaneous and nodal
metastases without visceral metastases could be aggressively treated and the patient can have a good quality of life. |
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ISSN: | 2249-782X 0973-709X |