Cutaneous Metastasis of Signet Ring Cell Carcinoma: An Unusual Case Report

Abstract

Introduction: Signet ring cell carcinoma is a rare form of highly malignant adenocarcinoma, with the prevalence rate of < 1%. The most common site of the primary tumor is the stomach, and the secondary sites are the breast, gall bladder, urinary bladder, and pancreas. Moreover, the common metastasis sites of signet ring cell carcinomas are the lung and the liver. Skin metastasis is extremely rare, with the prevalence rate of 0.3%. Signet ring cell carcinomas are usually diagnosed during the late stages of the disease; hence, the tumors spread more aggressively than non-signet ring cell types, thereby making treatment challenging. Case presentation: We report a 30-year-old male with cutaneous metastasis of signet ring cell carcinoma in the form of multiple, asymptomatic, skin-colored, nodular lesions on his neck and chest. Conclusions: Signet ring cell carcinoma is a rare type of adenocarcinoma, the primary site of which is the stomach. Moreover, the usual metastasis sites of the tumor are the lung and the liver. The timely diagnosis of such a malignant and aggressive tumor is possible by detecting the unusual presentations of cutaneous metastasis, which would result in offering timely interventions and saving patient’s lives.