Metastatic Lung Adenocarcinoma: A Case of Unusual Presentation With a Skull Mass

This case report describes an uncommon presentation of lung adenocarcinoma, which appeared as a skull mass. While not the first reported case in medical literature, it is still a rare occurrence for lung adenocarcinoma to present in this manner. This report focuses on the clinical presentation and treatment of an elderly male patient who had a progressively enlarging and painful skull mass. The initial imaging revealed an about 5 cm soft tissue mass at the dorsal midline of the parietal-occipital bone. Subsequent imaging identified a lung mass, and a biopsy of the skull bone confirmed that the mass was metastatic adenocarcinoma originating from the lung. For treatment, the patient underwent occipital partial resection of the mass, followed by wire mesh cranioplasty. Chemotherapy and external beam radiotherapy were administered to alleviate symptoms and control the spread of cancer. Lung carcinoma with distant metastasis is generally associated with a poorer prognosis. However, some supporting data suggest that early detection and aggressive management play crucial roles in preventing further metastasis and improving the patient's quality of life and overall survival rate. Skull bone metastasis from lung cancer is indeed a rare phenomenon, and cases like these contribute valuable knowledge to the field. By reporting such cases, healthcare professionals can gain a better understanding of the clinical manifestations, diagnostic challenges, and appropriate management strategies for these uncommon occurrences. This case report underscores the significance of maintaining a high index of suspicion and utilizing a multimodality approach to diagnose rare instances of calvarial metastasis.