Non-small cell lung cancer presenting as back cyst

Cutaneous metastasis as the presenting sign of lung cancer is rare, with a poor prognosis and a life expectancy of 3 to 5 months. We present the complicated course of a 60-year-old woman with extensive metastatic non-small cell lung cancer that presented as a back cyst. Due to the benign appearance of the cyst and the difficulty discovering the location of the primary malignancy, diagnosis and treatment were delayed. Unfortunately, once aggressive treatment was initiated at the request of the patient, she died 2 weeks later. This case highlights the importance of recognizing cutaneous lesions as a sign of internal malignancy and emphasizes multidisciplinary discussion that focuses on the patient's quality of life.