A Systematic Review of Cutaneous Involvement in Metastatic Bone Sarcomas: Insights from 102 Reported Cases

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Authors: N Sideris, Efstratios Vakirlis, Elena Sotiriou
Cited by: 1
References: 81

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Cutaneous metastases from primary bone sarcomas are exceedingly rare and poorly characterized, often posing diagnostic challenges due to their atypical presentation. This systematic review aimed to describe the clinical patterns, temporal relationships, and prognostic implications of cutaneous metastases across major bone sarcoma histologies. Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted to identify all reported cases of cutaneous metastases from osteosarcoma, chondrosarcoma, Ewing sarcoma, and chordoma. Data on patient demographics, primary tumor site, cutaneous lesion characteristics, latency periods, synchronous metastases, morphology, and clinical outcome were extracted and analyzed descriptively. Results: 102 cases were identified, with chordoma representing the most frequent histology. Cutaneous metastases showed histology-specific patterns: osteosarcoma and Ewing sarcoma typically presented with multiple lesions in the context of widespread systemic disease and poor prognosis, whereas chordoma more often exhibited solitary or skin-dominant metastases with longer latency and occasional favorable outcomes, including complete responses after local treatment. Conclusions: Cutaneous metastases in bone sarcomas display heterogeneous behavior, with chordoma demonstrating a more indolent and potentially manageable pattern compared to other histologies. Increased clinical awareness is essential to avoid diagnostic delays and optimize management.

Fields of Study & Subjects

Sarcoma Diagnosis and Treatment Bone Tumor Diagnosis and Treatments Management of metastatic bone disease

Publication details

Journal / source
Cancers
Publisher
MDPI AG
Volume
18
Issue
3
Pages
437–437
Publication date
29 January 2026
Language
EN