Clown Nose: A Rare Hypopharyngeal Cancer Metastasis

Ear Nose Throat J. 2022 Jan 5:1455613211069349. doi: 10.1177/01455613211069349. Online ahead of print.

Abstract

Cutaneous metastases from squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck region are uncommon, and their location at the nasal tip is exceptionally rare. A patient, previously treated with surgery and chemoradiation for a hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma, developed several red nodular skin lesions at the nasal tip. Biopsy revealed cutaneous metastasis from the primary tumor. This manifestation was previously described as a "clown nose," given their appearance and location. Skin lesions should raise suspicion of malignancy, despite their location at uncommon places, particularly in patients with previous diagnosed cancer. Clinicians must be aware that metastases from head and neck cancer can present as a "clown nose."

Keywords: clown nose; cutaneous metastasis; hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma; nasal tip metastasis; nodular skin lesions.