The clue is on the lip: unmasking esophageal adenocarcinoma: A case report

Esophageal cancer accounts for about 1% of all cancer diagnoses in the United States.

An 82-year-old male presented to a dermatology clinic with a chief complaint of a skin lesion on the right lower lip. He denied any prior gastrointestinal symptoms or history.

A shave biopsy of the lip lesion revealed adenocarcinoma. Subsequent positron emission tomography-computed tomography demonstrated findings concerning for esophageal malignancy with metastatic disease.

Esophagogastroduodenoscopy identified a lesion in the distal esophagus, and biopsy confirmed invasive, moderately to poorly differentiated esophageal adenocarcinoma.

The patient was referred to oncology, where he was diagnosed with stage IV metastatic esophageal adenocarcinoma. He was initiated on chemotherapy, which he tolerated well.

This case highlights the rare presentation of stage IV esophageal adenocarcinoma as a solitary lip lesion without typical gastrointestinal symptoms. Given the rarity of lip involvement, clinicians should maintain a high index of suspicion for systemic malignancy in atypical skin lesions. Early biopsy and diagnosis are crucial for timely intervention and improved outcomes. The purpose of the study is to highlight the importance of maintaining a high index of suspicion for gastrointestinal malignancy, even in the absence of traditional gastrointestinal symptoms, when evaluating unusual skin lesions.