Humeral metastases: an unusual presentation of pancreatic cancer

Abstract

Abstract In patients presenting with symptomatic bone metastases, the usual primary malignancies are breast, prostate, thyroid, lung and kidney. Pancreatic cancers are an uncommon cause of bone metastasis and, when they are, it is typically to the axial skeleton. We present the case of a 77-year-old woman who presented to our emergency department with right arm pain. Investigation demonstrated a metastatic lesion with impending pathological fracture. Further investigation found a necrotic pancreatic mass in the tail of the pancreas. Histopathology from the humeral metastasis was consistent with metastatic adenosquamous carcinoma of pancreatic origin. The humerus metastasis was successfully managed with an intramedullary nail. This case highlights an unusual presentation of pancreatic adenocarcinoma with humeral bone metastasis.