A rare clinical presentation of lung cancer: two cases of solitary digital metastasis on Tc-99m MDP bone scan

Abstract

Abstract Background Acrometastases are accounted for a very small proportion of bone metastases. Lung cancer is the most common acrometastasis origin, and it often has a poor prognosis. The aim of the present cases is to describe the probability of an acrometastasis in the differential diagnosis of finger lesions and to emphasize the importance of taking local views of extremity of complaint for proper interpretation in such patients. Case presentation Here we reported two patients with metastases to the fingers with occult primary lung carcinoma and a history of prior lung malignancy, respectively. First case was a 58-year-old man with history of pain and swelling in the fourth finger of his left hand. He underwent an amputation from the metacarpophalangeal level and the pathological diagnosis was metastatic NSCLC. The second case was a 65-year-old ex-smoker man with a history of prior lung cancer (adenocarcinoma) suffered from a swollen, erythematous, painful tip of the right third finger. Phalangectomy was performed and the histological examination of the amputated part revealed the presence of a metastatic differentiated carcinoma of pulmonary origin. Conclusions When assessing the masses located at fingers, possibility of a solitary metastatic lung lesion should be considered.