The cutaneous manifestations of gastrointestinal malignancy

Semin Oncol. 2016 Jun;43(3):341-6. doi: 10.1053/j.seminoncol.2016.02.028. Epub 2016 Feb 23.

Abstract

The skin is often the herald of an underlying systemic illness, and gastrointestinal malignancies can present in numerous ways in the skin. Paraneoplastic phenomenon, such as acanthosis nigricans and tripe palm, may be the first indicator of a gastrointestinal malignancy. In addition, gastrointestinal cancers can metastasize to the skin, as described in the well-known Sister Mary Joseph's nodule. Inflammatory systemic conditions such as dermatomyositis and multicentric reticulohistiocytosis can be associated with underlying malignancy. Finally, in numerous genetic syndromes with underlying malignancies, such as Muir-Torre, recognition of the skin signs leads to early diagnosis and screening.

Keywords: Acanthosis nigracans; Gastrointestinal malignancy; Muir-Torre; Paraneoplastic.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Carcinoma, Basal Cell / etiology
  • Carcinoma, Basal Cell / pathology
  • Dermatomyositis / etiology
  • Dermatomyositis / pathology
  • Esophageal Neoplasms / etiology
  • Esophageal Neoplasms / pathology
  • Gardner Syndrome / etiology
  • Gardner Syndrome / pathology
  • Gastrointestinal Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Humans
  • Hypertrichosis / etiology
  • Hypotrichosis / etiology
  • Hypotrichosis / pathology
  • Keratoderma, Palmoplantar / etiology
  • Keratoderma, Palmoplantar / pathology
  • Muir-Torre Syndrome / etiology
  • Muir-Torre Syndrome / pathology
  • Paraneoplastic Syndromes / etiology*
  • Paraneoplastic Syndromes / pathology
  • Skin Neoplasms / etiology
  • Skin Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Skin Neoplasms / secondary

Supplementary concepts

  • Bazex-Dupre-Christol syndrome
  • Keratosis palmoplantaris with esophageal cancer