Solitary acrometastasis of the phalanx as initial presentation of an oligometastatic Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog-mutated lung adenocarcinoma: a case report

J Med Case Rep. 2023 Sep 18;17(1):395. doi: 10.1186/s13256-023-04127-1.

Abstract

Background: Acrometastasis is an uncommon finding in non-small cell lung cancer and is usually a sign of multimetastatic disease. Few case reports have suggested solitary digital metastasis as the single secondary lesion of oligometastatic non-small cell lung cancer.

Case presentation: This case report describes an unusual presentation of a Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog-mutated lung adenocarcinoma with a solitary bone metastasis in the fourth finger medial phalanx, which was also the first sign of the disease, in a 63-year-old Caucasian female patient. Digital surgical amputation was performed. After histopathological confirmation and radiological exclusion of other secondary lesions, chemoimmunotherapy in a first-line setting was initiated. A partial metabolic response in the primary lung lesion was observed after four cycles. Maintenance therapy is currently being continued.

Conclusion: Solitary digital metastasis is a rare finding in non-small cell lung cancer. Further studies are needed to investigate the mechanisms behind this particular dissemination process.

Keywords: Acrometastasis; Oligometastatic lung adenocarcinoma; Phalanx metastasis.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma of Lung*
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung* / diagnostic imaging
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung* / genetics
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Lung Neoplasms* / diagnostic imaging
  • Lung Neoplasms* / genetics
  • Middle Aged
  • Oncogenes
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras)

Substances

  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras)