Multiple cutaneous and haemorrhagic brain metastases as the sentinel presentation of lung adenocarcinoma

Abstract

Skin is a relatively uncommon site of metastasis in lung cancer and is associated with a poor prognosis. Although, lung cancer does not uncommonly metastasise to the brain, haemorrhagic brain metastases are rarely reported. In this report, we present a dramatic presentation of a female smoker with a 3-week history of numerous cutaneous lesions over her body and two episodes of transient memory loss. Work-up demonstrated widely metastatic, poorly differentiated lung adenocarcinoma with haemorrhagic brain metastases. She proceeded with whole brain radiotherapy, but her performance status quickly declined afterwards; she succumbed to her malignancy within 6 weeks of presentation. This case presentation demonstrates that, for patients who present with cutaneous masses, especially those aged more than 60 years, and who have extensive smoking history, metastatic lung cancer should remain on the differential diagnosis. Also, the very poor prognosis of multiple metastases may influence medical and social decisions in the patient’s treatment plan.