Rohit Dhingra, Julie Y Tse, and M Wasif Saif
Background Gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (GEP-NETs) are neoplasms commonly found within the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) that originate from endocrine cells. These are slow progressive tumors and often metastasize to other elements of the GIT including the liver. Consequently, these tumors release hormones including serotonin and/or histamine that are responsible for the symptoms including intermittent flushing and diarrhea. Metastasis of GEP-NETs, although rare, is possible and may extend to local lymph nodes and viscera. Case report Our patient was a 69-year-old female who initially presented with postprandial abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and later was diagnosed with GEP-NETs following surgical resection in 2014. Restaging after surgery showed regional lymph node involvement and hepatic metastasis. Of note she did not have a pre-operative computed tomography (CT) scan. She was started on octreotide, and later switched to lanreotide. In the interim, she did not have any positive findings on serial octreoscans depicting the skin lesion that was performed in the interim period every six months. However, she noticed a cutaneous mass in the upper right flank mass in 2016, which was followed up by a dermatologist. In 2017, the mass grew in size and hence biopsied which showed NET consistent with her primary tumor. Discussion GEP-NETs often metastasize to lymph nodes and liver but rarely can involve the skin and present as firm papules as found in our patient. Cutaneous metastasis of GEP-NETs often has high morbidity and mortality and is usually associated with a primary lesion in the bronchopulmonary system. However, as demonstrated in this case report, cutaneous metastasis can originate from the GIT, including the small intestine as well.
