Metastatic cancer in an uncommon location: importance of clinico-pathological correlation.

Abstract

Acrometastasis is an uncommon metastatic location appearing in the small bones of hands and feet (1). Its low incidence, around 0,1% of all bone metastases, may be due to the subclinical presentation and the lack of attention to the extremities in routine examination (1- 5). However, it sometimes represents the first expression of an occult malignancy (1-4). The symptoms are aspecific and may mimic a local infection, an inflammatory disease (arthritis, tenosynovitis) or a dermatologic lesion (1-5). The correct diagnosis of this atypical entity is important to draw the attention of the clinicians to the metastatic dissemination of the disease, to initiate adequate treatment and reduce patient morbidity.