EP1.01-87 Cutaneous Metastasis in Lung Cancer – A Retrospective Study in a Local Health Unit in Guarda, Portugal

Abstract

Cutaneous metastasis from lung cancer is rare, occurring in 0.22-12% of cases. Their presence has generally been considered a sign of an already disseminated, poor-prognosis and non-surgical disease. Current data suggest lung cancer is the second most frequent cause of cutaneous metastasis in men, behind malignant melanoma. We conducted a retrospective analysis of patients diagnosed with lung cancer and cutaneous metastasis, submitted to skin biopsy to confirmation, from November 2010 to March 2019, in our local health unit. Data regarding demographic characteristics, smoking history; location and histology and of the primary tumor; staging; number, location and type of skin lesion; overall survival and survival after detection of cutaneous metastasis were collected from clinical records. Five patients were included, 4 were of male gender (80.0%), with median age of 79 years (range, 56-88). Three patients (60.0%) were former smokers, 1 current smoker and 1 non-smoker. The location of the primary tumor was right upper lobe (3 cases, 60.0%) and left lower lobe (2 cases, 40.0%); histology of adenocarcinoma in 3 patients (60.0%), 1 patient with squamous cell carcinoma and another with neuroendocrine carcinoma. All cases of lung cancer were diagnosed with an initial stage IV disease. Most of them had a unique skin lesion, mainly a nodule, located either in the upper abdominal wall or dorsal region. From the 5 cases, 4 had died, with a median overall survival 0.5 months (range, 0-1) and survival after cutaneous metastasis 15.5 days (range, 12-82). According to data, also in our study men had more cutaneous metastasis from lung cancer than women. Previous or active smoking history was present in almost all patients, the main histology type was adenocarcinoma and primary lung cancer was frequently located in right upper lobe, consistent with reported data. In all cases, lung cancer was diagnosed in an advanced stage and survival after diagnosis of cutaneous metastasis was extremely low.