Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 31, 2026

Author Spotlight: Decoding Metastasis-to-Metastasis Seeding Using a New In Vivo Technique for Tracking Breast Cancer Spread
Published on: July 7, 2023
Cutaneous Metastases: A Review and Diagnostic Approach to Tumors of Unknown Origin
Gabriel Habermehl1, Jennifer Ko1
1From the Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio.
Context.—:
Cutaneous metastases from a distant malignancy are a diagnostic challenge for pathologists. Secondary involvement of the skin by a metastatic process portends a much worse clinical prognosis than any primary cutaneous malignant mimickers. Immunohistochemical staining methods continue to evolve and are of paramount importance in diagnosis.
Objective.—:
To review the clinical, histopathologic, and immunohistochemical staining patterns for commonly encountered entities and discuss potential pitfalls in diagnosis. A practical guide useful in approaching cutaneous metastases of unknown primary is outlined.
Data Sources.—:
An extensive search and review of literature in PubMed was performed, processed, and condensed.
Conclusions.—:
Cutaneous metastases have broad histopathologic patterns. They are nearly always dermal based, with an overall foreign appearance. They can be single papules/nodules or multiple in number, mimicking an inflammatory or infectious process. Ultimately, immunohistochemistry remains an essential diagnostic tool, and clinical correlation is paramount in the workup of these entities.
Related Concept Videos
Review and Preview
Percentiles are a type of fractile that partition data into...
Review and Preview
Testing a Claim about Mean: Unknown Population SD
Estimating a population mean requires the samples to be approximately normally distributed. The data should be collected from the randomly selected samples having no sampling bias. There is no specific requirement for sample size. But if the sample size is less than 30, and we don't know the population standard deviation, a different approach is used;...
Estimating Population Mean with Unknown Standard Deviation
William S. Gosset (1876–1937) of the...
Cancers Originate from Somatic Mutations in a Single Cell
Appendicitis-II: Diagnostic Studies and Management
Diagnosing Appendicitis
It requires a multifaceted approach, starting with a detailed physical examination to pinpoint the location and nature of the pain and identify any associated symptoms. Laboratory tests play a crucial role. A complete Blood Count (CBC) typically reveals leukocytosis (an increased number of...

