Abstract
Patients with lung cancer may present with respiratory and systemic symptoms. However, cutaneous metastases from primary lung cancer is a rare phenomenon, especially in women, that signifies a poor prognosis. This paper reported a case regarding a 71-year-old woman who was first presented with a cutaneous nodule over the year. Her condition was further progressed to multiple lesions on the back and abdomen, dyspnoea, haemoptysis and weight loss. The results of the skin lesion biopsy exhibited metastatic lung adenocarcinoma with positive immunohistochemistry for thyroid transcription factor 1 (TTF1) and cytokeratin 7 (CK7). Computed tomography (CT) scan was conducted, and it revealed a left upper lobe lung mass. The patient was subsequently scheduled for additional management, but she had succumbed to complications of pulmonary embolism before the necessary interventions could be provided. In this particular case presentation, the biopsy of cutaneous lesions obtained had revealed an undiagnosed primary malignancy.
Highlights
Cutaneous metastases are generally an uncommon manifestation; its presentation is usually a sign of the dissemination of internal malignancy
Multiple studies reported that the incidence of cutaneous metastasis in lung cancer patients was within a range of 1 to 12 % [1]
While cutaneous metastases are commonly known to be rare in women and usually manifested as a solitary nodule, our patient was presented with multiple painful skin lesions all over her trunk
Summary
Cutaneous metastases are generally an uncommon manifestation; its presentation is usually a sign of the dissemination of internal malignancy Other malignancies such as melanomas, haematolymphoid malignancies, germ cell tumours and sarcomas are associated with metastasis to the skin. A 71-year-old Chinese woman first presented with a cutaneous nodule on the left lateral axilla was progressed to multiple nodules on the upper back and lower abdomen within a year. Skin examination revealed multiple subcutaneous nodules on the right upper back, left axilla and lower abdomen, each approximately 10 to 15 mm in diameter. These subcutaneous nodules were purplish and erythematous in appearance with well-defined borders, being firm, fixed and non-discharging in nature (Figure 1). She was passed away after two weeks of hospitalization with the cause of death attributing to a massive pulmonary embolism
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