[Hand metastases--a rare metastatic form of colorectal carcinoma]

24 years after the diagnosis of ulcerative colitis had been made a now 77-year-old man was found to have carcinoma of the rectum. One year after its resection lung metastases and a sacral recurrence became apparent. Two years later swelling of the left hand was at first diagnosed as Sudeck's atrophy, but subsequent tests revealed a metastasis of the known adenocarcinoma to the hand. Palliative telecobalt radiation quickly brought about symptomatic relief.