Cutaneous metastasis as primary presentation in unsuspected carcinoma esophagus: Report of two cases

Cutaneous metastasis from carcinoma esophagus is an extremely rare occurrence. It accounts for less than 1% among all cases of metastatic carcinoma esophagus. We present two such unusual cases in which the primary manifestation was cutaneous lesions. Histology from the biopsy of the lesion in one case was reported as adenocarcinoma and while that from the other case was reported as squamous cell carcinoma. A search for primary revealed previously unsuspected carcinoma esophagus in both the cases. The patients subsequently developed metachronous systemic lesions and expired within 5 months of appearance of the index skin lesion.