Cutaneous metastasis: a clinical, pathological, and immunohistochemical appraisal

Abstract

Excluding the potential for age and gender bias in this study conducted in a VA setting, cutaneous metastases represent an uncommon, deadly, and late-developing occurrence in many patients. Compared with previous studies, lung carcinoma remains the most common of the cutaneous metastases, with a relative rise in the incidence of metastatic melanoma. The immunohistochemical battery of CK-7, CK-20, and S-100 is a helpful adjunct in narrowing the differential diagnosis of the primary site of a large proportion of cutaneous metastases, particularly tumors with an epithelioid appearance such as carcinomas and melanomas.