Olecranon metastases from primary lung cancer: case report and review of the literature

Abstract

Tumours in the olecranon are rare. A 62-year-old man presented with a 3-week history of pain in his right elbow that was relieved using routine painkillers. Persistent pain resulted in a reduction of the range of motion in the elbow and pain in the extensor and flexor groups of muscles of the forearm, which resulted in the patient seeking medical assistance. Radiography showed a round, radiolucent focus in the depth of the distal ulna. Computed tomography imaging of the thorax demonstrated one solid soft tissue mass. Histological investigation showed the cancer was a poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma. The patient received local radiotherapy and systemic chemotherapy, but he died of his primary disease 3 months later.