Single metachronous bone metastasis following rectal adenocarcinoma: A case report

Colorectal cancer (CRC) ranks as the third leading cause of cancer-related mortality in developed countries. While its incidence in early stages has increased due to screening programs, a significant number of patients experience the development of metastases either at the time of diagnosis or during follow-ups. Unlike certain other types of cancer, such as breast, prostate, or lung cancer, where bone tissue is a common site for secondary dissemination, CRC primarily spreads to the lymph nodes, liver and lungs. The occurrence of bone metastases from CRC is rare and usually coincides with tumor involvement in other locations. Risk factors for bone metastases include the location of the primary tumor, the age of the patients, KRAS mutations and the degree of tumor differentiation. Unlike metastases to the liver and lungs, bone metastases tend to be symptomatic, affecting the patient's quality of life and resulting in a poorer prognosis with shorter survival rates. The approach to patient management needs to be personalized. The present study describes the of a patient who underwent surgery for stage IV rectal adenocarcinoma and later developed a metastasis in the costal wall 79 months post-intervention, with no evidence of recurrence at other sites.