Cutaneous metastases revealing gastric linitis

Background. Cutaneous metastases from gastric carcinoma are uncommon and ar e exceptionally the first sign of disease. Case report. A 31-year-old man presented with nodular lesions that had deve loped three months earlier on the trunk, scalp and limbs. A skin biopsy sug gested a metastatic origin. The upper digestive fibroscopy with biopsy demo nstrated gastric linitis. Due to the presence of bone metastasis, treatment was not initiated, the patient died four months later. Discussion. Metastatic dissemination of gastric carcinoma to the skin usual ly occurs in advanced stage disease. Generally, the skin lesions are painle ss hard nodules on the anterior abdominal wall. Our patient developed unusu al inaugural skin metastases with an exceptional localization.