[Cystic tumors in the retrorectal space. Do these two cases have something in common?]. / Tumoraciones quísticas del espacio retrorrectal. ¿Tienen algo en común estos dos casos?

Cystic lesions in the retrorectal or presacral space present a broad differential diagnosis. Rare but typical lesions at this site are those related to embryonic development, which are the most frequent presacral congenital lesions in adults. Amongst these tumors, epidermoid cysts and cystic hamartomas are the most common lesions. Cystic masses, which are asymptomatic in approximately 50% of the cases at diagnosis, may show complications such as infection or malignant degeneration. Initial diagnosis is based on imaging techniques although definite lesion characterization, essential due to their malignancy risk, is given by the pathological analysis of the surgical piece.

Tumoraciones quísticas del espacio retrorrectal. ¿Tienen algo en común estos dos casos? / Cystic tumors in the retrorectal space. Do these two cases have something in common?

Las lesiones del espacio retrorrectal o presacro plantean un amplio diagnóstico diferencial. Una patologíatípica aunque rara de esta localización son las masas quísticas relacionadas con el desarrollo embrionario, que constituyen las lesiones congénitas presacras más frecuentes en el adulto. De éstas, los quistes epidérmicos y los hamartomas quísticos son las más comunes. Asintomáticas hasta en la mitad de los casos al diagnóstico, las masas quísticas pueden presentar complicaciones infecciosas e incluso degeneración maligna. El diagnóstico inicial se basa en las pruebas de imagen, aunque la caracterización definitiva, de gran importancia dado el riesgo de malignización, viene dada por la anatomía patológica de la pieza quirúrgica. Presentamos dos casos clínicos de lesiones quísticas retrorrectales diagnosticadas en nuestro centro (AU)

Cystic lesions in the retrorectal or presacral space present a broad differential diagnosis. Rare but typical lesions at this site are those related to embryonic development, which are the most frequent presacral congenital lesions in adults. Amongst these tumors, epidermoid cysts and cystic hamartomas are the most common lesions. Cystic masses, which are asymptomatic in approximately 50 % of the cases at diagnosis, may show complications such as infection or malignant degeneration. Initial diagnosis is based on imaging techniques although definite lesion characterization, essential due to their malignancy risk, is given by the pathological analysis of the surgical piece (AU)

Metástasis cutáneas de cáncer de recto / Cutaneous metastases from rectal cancer

El carcinoma colorrectal es un tumor que con muy poca frecuencia origina metástasis cutáneas, y cuando lo hace raramente es por vía hematógena. Presentamos el caso de un varón de 55 años diagnosticado de un adenocarcinoma de recto (tercio inferior) estadioT3N2M0. Tratado inicialmente con radioquimioterapia neoadyuvante, fue intervenido ocho semanas después realizándose una amputación abdominoperineal extendida. El resultado anatomopatológico fue de adenocarcinoma mucinoso de recto, estadio ypT3bN1. Tras un postoperatorio sin complicaciones el paciente recibió tratamiento quimioterápico con capecitabina. A los 18 meses el paciente refirió la aparición progresiva de nódulos subcutáneos en distintas localizaciones. En la tomografía computarizada de control se objetivaron múltiples imágenes sugestivas de metástasis a nivel hepático y pulmonar, así como lesiones subcutáneas. La exéresis-biopsia de uno de los nódulos subcutáneos corroboró la sospecha de metástasis de adenocarcinoma de recto. Se valoró tratamiento quimioterápico que no llegó a administrarse por el rápido deterioro del paciente que llevó al exitus (AU)

Colorectal carcinoma is a tumour that very infrequently gives rise to cutaneous metastases and when it does so, it is rarely by the haematogenous route. We present the case of a 55-year old male diagnosed with anadenocarcinoma of the rectum (lower third), clinical stageT3N2M0. Initially treated with neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy, he was operated on eight weeks later, with an extended abdominoperineal amputation. The anatomopathological result was mucinous adenocarcinoma of the rectum, clinical stage ypT3bN1. Following a postoperative period without complications, the patient received chemotherapeutic treatment with capecitabine. Eighteen months later the patient reported the progressive appearance of subcutaneous nodules in different localizations. In the computerized tomography test multiple images were objectivized suggesting metastasis at the hepatic and pulmonary levels, as well as subcutaneous lesions. The biopsy-excision of one of the subcutaneous nodules corroborated the suspicion of metastasis of the adenocarcinoma of the rectum. Chemotherapy treatment was considered for the patient, which was not administered due to the rapid deterioration of the patient leading to his death (AU)

[Cutaneous metastases of rectal cancer]. / Metástasis cutáneas de cáncer de recto.

Colorectal carcinoma is a tumour that very infrequently gives rise to cutaneous metastases and when it does so, it is rarely via the haematogenous route. We present the case of a 55-year old male diagnosed with an adenocarcinoma of the rectum (lower third), clinical stage T3N2M0. Initially treated with neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy, he was operated on eight weeks later, with an extended abdominoperineal amputation. The anatomopathological result was mucinous adenocarcinoma of the rectum, clinical stage ypT3bN1. Following a postoperative period without complications, the patient received chemotherapeutic treatment with capecitabine. Eighteen months later the patient reported the progressive appearance of subcutaneous nodules in different localizations. In the computerized tomography test multiple images were objectivized suggesting metastasis at the hepatic and pulmonary levels, as well as subcutaneous lesions. The biopsy-excision of one of the subcutaneous nodules corroborated the suspicion of metastasis of the adenocarcinoma of the rectum. Chemotherapy treatment was considered for the patient, which was not administered due to the rapid deterioration of the patient leading to his death.