Author: Dr Aravind Chandran, Dermatology Registrar, Middlemore Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand, 2011.
Carcinoma erysipeloides is an uncommon form of cutaneousmetastasis in which malignant cells spread to the skin via superficial dermallymphatic vessels. It presents as an erythematousinduratedplaque, most often located on the anterior chest wall.
Histology of carcinoma erysipeloides
Histological findings of inflammatory carcinoma is distinctive with the deposition of tightly packed malignant cells within the superficial and deep lymphatics without the pathologic evidence of acuteinflammation, such as neutrophils, although the lesions look clinically red and inflamed. Dermal lymphatic invasion is considered to be the hallmark of CE. 8