Carcinoma lung with cutaneous metastasis: experience from an Indian institute

Majority of lung cancer patients are presented with metastatic disease. However, cutaneous metastasis (CM) from lung carcinoma is a rare entity with very few case reports published in the Indian background. Moreover, outcome in these patients is dismal and no standard therapeutic approaches are there. Thus, a long-term analysis from a single institute in this infrequent occurrence holds scientific importance. The purpose of this study was to describe the clinico-demographic profile of patients having CM with lung primary and also to evaluate the survival outcomes in these patients.

This was a retro-prospective study conducted over 5-year time period in an academic institute of India. Records of all histopathologically confirmed lung cancer patients were reviewed and patients having biopsy-proven CM were included in this analysis. Permission from Institutional Ethics Committee and informed consent from all the patients were taken. Data of these patients were collected and analysed using standard statistical software.

Total of 25 cases of biopsy-proven CM were found in the stipulated time period. Mean age of patients was 57.6 years with high male predominance. Anterior chest wall was the most common site of skin involvement and squamous cell carcinoma was the most common primary histopathology. Overall, median survival was 4.9 months.

Once CM developed, survival of lung carcinoma patients become dismal. Goal of the treatment will be to palliate and to improve quality of life in these patients. Understanding the clinical pattern and demographic profile of these patients will guide a standard treatment approach.