Abstract

Fifty seven cases (male : 34, female : 23) of metastatic skin tumor in our department were statistically investigated about age, location, clinical appearance, primary organs, and histological types. In addition, immunohistochemical examination using antibody against ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) was performed. Ages of cases were from 38 to 88 (mean : 62). Eruptions, which were mainly red nodules or tumors in shape, had been primarily presented on the trunk. Examination of primary organs showed that the ratio of metastasis from gastro-intestine, respiratory tract and lympho-reticular system was each about twenty percent. Histologically, adenocarcinomas were most frequently observed. In elevan cases, metastatic lesions were noticed before primary lesions were found. Duration from confirmation of primary lesions to that of metastatic lesions and duration of survival after skin metastasis were 1 to 63 months (mean :19.9) and 0.5-60 months (mean : 9.9), respectively. Immunohistochemical analysis showed that center of the nests in squamous cell carcinomas reacted with antibody against ODC and the intensity of staining was decreased in the peripheral layer of tumor nests. Our data, such as location, clinical finding and histological types supported previous studies. But, incidence of cases from breast cancer was low compared with that in previous studies. This difference seems to be related to a lower ratio of female cases.