Masywne przerzuty do skóry jako pierwszy objaw raka piersi — opis przypadku

Introduction: Metastases to the skin are relatively rare, but they are an important diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. In women skin metastases are the most commonly associated with breast cancer. In the men they are often associated with lung cancer. Skin metastasis most often are in form of blue-purple nodules and tumours with tendency of necrosis. Aim: The aim of this paper is to present the case of a patient with diagnosed breast cancer with skin involvement. Case report: The 48-years old female patient was admitted to The Department of Dermatology for diagnosis and treatment of dermal lesions in form of numerous blue-purple nodules and ulcerations localised on the skin of the chest. The ultrasound examination suggested a primary malignant lesion in the left breast spreading to the right side and numerous satellite nodules. A whole nodule was collected for histopathological and immunohistochemical examinations in order to make the final diagnosis. Histopathology tests confirmed the diagnosis of tumour metastases of the skin and positive immunohistochemical reactions for cytokeratin 7 (CK7) and for oestrogen receptors (ER) pointed mammary glands as the primary site. The patient was urgently referred to the Oncology Centre. Conclusions: The occurrence of skin metastasis in all tumour processes significantly worsens the prognosis of the patient. These changes should be quickly recognized by the oncologist or dermatologist. Sometimes the localization of primary tumour is not possible to determine without taking the biopsy for histopathological and immunohistochemistry assays. Rapid treatment of appropriate chemotherapy or radiotherapy can prolong life and reduce pain.Wstęp: Przerzuty nowotworów do skóry stanowią istotny problem diagnostyczy i terapeutyczny, chociaż występują stosunkowo rzadko. Przerzuty do skóry obserwowane są najczęściej w przebiegu raka sutka u kobiet i raka płuca w przypadku mężczyzn. Zazwyczaj mają one postać sinofioletowych guzków i guzów, niekiedy z tendencją do rozpadu. Cel pracy: Celem pracy jest przedstawienie przypadku pacjentki z rozpoznanym nowotworem piersi przebiegającym z zajęciem skóry. Opis przypadku: 48-letnia pacjentka została przyjęta do Kliniki Dermatologii w celu diagnostyki i leczenia zmian skórnych o charakterze licznych sinofioletowych guzków z tendencją do rozpadu oraz owrzodzeń zlokalizowanych na skórze gładkiej klatki piersiowej. W badaniu USG piersi całość obrazu przemawiała za procesem nowotworowym pierwotnie wywodzącym się z piersi lewej, z progresją zmian na stronę prawą, z licznymi guzkami satelitarnymi. Pobrano w całości guzek do badania histopatologicznego oraz immunohistochemicznego w celu ustalenia rozpoznania ostatecznego. Wynik badania histopatologicznego potwierdził rozpoznanie przerzutów nowotworowych do skóry, dodatnie odczyny immunohistochemiczne dla cytokeratyny 7 (CK 7) i receptorów estrogenowych (ER) wskazywały na sutek jako miejsce guza pierwotnego. Pacjentka została w trybie pilnym skierowana do Centrum Onkologii. Wnioski: Wystąpienie przerzutów do skóry w przypadku wszystkich procesów nowotworowych znacznie pogarsza rokowanie pacjenta. Zmiany te powinny być szybko rozpoznane przez prowadzącego onkologa lub dermatologa. Czasem punkt wyjścia nowotworu nie jest możliwy do ustalenia bez pobrania materiału do badania histopatologicznego i immunohistochemicznego. Szybkie wdrożenie odpowiedniej chemioterapii lub radioterapii pozwala przedłużyć życie chorych oraz zmniejszyć dolegliwości bólowe.

Imaging in a rare case of neuroendocrine tumour with skin metastases

Purpose: Disseminated malignancies are a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge that is often encountered in radiology. Finding the primary tumour is crucial for planning proper surgical and oncological treatment. Computed tomography (CT) of the thorax and abdomen is typically the initial examination. However, abdominal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or positron emission tomography (PET/CT) or PET/MRI are often subsequently performed. Histopathological examination of metastatic tumours is performed as well, followed by immunohistochemistry. The aim of the report was to present diagnostic workup in a rare case of skin metastases. Case report: A 72-year-old patient was admitted to a dermatology ward because of skin lesions - violaceous nodules localised on the hair-covered skin of the head. On abdominal CT, a generalised neoplastic process with metastases in the liver, pancreas, adrenal glands, lymph nodes, bones, thoracic wall, and a suspected metastasis in the right breast was revealed. Histopathology of the skin nodules confirmed a neuroendocrine tumour. Metastases of a pancreatic neuroendocrine tumour or small-cell lung cancer were suspected on immunohistochemistry. The patient died before we were able to localise the primary source of the tumour and provide treatment. Conclusions: Skin metastases are relatively rare, aggravate the prognosis, and usually indicate spread of the neoplastic process in the internal organs. It is not always possible to localise the primary tumour using radiological imaging. In such cases, co-operation with the pathologist is crucial as are the results of histopathological and immunohistochemical examinations

Pathogenic Activation and Therapeutic Blockage of FcαR-Expressing Polymorphonuclear Leukocytes in IgA Pemphigus

Pathomechanisms in IgA pemphigus are assumed to rely on Fc-dependent cellular activation by antigen-specific IgA autoantibodies; however, models for the disease and more detailed pathophysiologic data are lacking. In this study, we aimed to establish in vitro models of disease for IgA pemphigus, allowing us to study the effects of the interaction of anti-keratinocyte IgA with cell surface FcαRs. Employing multiple in vitro assays, such as a skin cryosection assay and a human skin organ culture model, in this study, we present mechanistic data for the pathogenesis of IgA pemphigus, mediated by anti–desmoglein 3 IgA autoantibodies. Our results reveal that this disease is dependent on FcαR-mediated activation of leukocytes in the epidermis. Importantly, this cell-dependent pathology can be dose-dependently abrogated by peptide-mediated inhibition of FcαR:IgA-Fc interaction, as confirmed in an additional model for IgA-dependent disease, that is, IgA vasculitis. These data suggest that IgA pemphigus can be modeled in vitro and that IgA pemphigus and IgA vasculitis are FcαR-dependent disease entities that can be specifically targeted in these experimental systems