Hand metastasis in a patient with cervical cancer: A case report

Acrometastasis is infrequent and generally indicates a wider spread of metastasis with poor prognosis. The diagnosis is challenging, as it might mimic an infectious, inflammatory, or metabolic disease. Acrometastasis are most commonly found in patients with lung, gastrointestinal, kidney, and breast cancer. Only 3 cases of cervical cancer associated with hand metastasis have been reported in the literature.

Herein, we report a 58-year-old patient with locally advanced cervical cancer and recurrence in the right thumb as presentation of widespread disseminated disease. She initially presented with adenocarcinoma of the uterine cervix and was treated with concurrent chemoradiation followed by high-dose rate brachytherapy. Six months later, she developed an insidious onset of pain and swelling in the right thumb, erythema, and edema, mimicking cellulitis.

A biopsy of the soft tissues of the thumb was performed, and the histopathology indicated metastasis of adenocarcinoma to the bone and soft tissues.

The patient rejected further treatment and died of progressive disease 4 months after the diagnosis of the recurrence.

Metastases in unusual sites are a diagnostic challenge, and there is no standardized treatment. Timely diagnosis and treatment can improve the prognosis of these patients and might preserve their quality of life.