Signet-ring cell carcinoma of the gallbladder with skin metastases

Cutaneous metastasis from gallbladder cancer is extremely rare. We present a case of signet-ring cell carcinoma of the gallbladder metastatic to the skin in a 38-year-old man. The skin nodules on the face, scalp and perianal area occurred approximately 1 year after the resection of the neoplasm. Skin metastases from gastrointestinal cancers are usually detected around surgical scars or on the abdominal wall, especially in the periumbilical region, and rarely present at other sites. Multiple imaging studies revealed the presence of metastatic bony involvement in the spine and left orbit. Visceral metastases have not been demonstrated in our patient in 20 months of follow up since the initial diagnosis of gallbladder cancer was made. We also briefly discuss other primary and metastatic skin tumours with signet-ring cell morphology.