Skin Metastasis in a patient with Small-Cell Lung Cancer

Abstract

A 64-year-old woman presented with abdominal pain and back pain. Physical examinationrevealed a subcutaneous nodule in the anterior abdominal wall. An ultrasoundguidedbiopsy revealed small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC), and additional workuprevealed extensive stage small cell lung carcinoma with involvement of the left lung andthe abdominal viscera. The patient underwent chemotherapy with a good initial response.Lung carcinoma infrequently metastasizes to the skin. However, these lesions,when present, have important prognostic implications since these patients typicallyrespond poorly to chemotherapy and have a mean survival of about five months. Carefulskin evaluation is essential in the evaluation of patients with possible bronchogeniccarcinoma.