Cutaneous metastases revealing lung adenocarcinoma: A case report

Lung cancer is the most common malignant tumour in men and the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Adenocarcinoma is the most common histologic type, accounting for about half of all cases. Cutaneous metastases from lung cancer are rarely the first manifestation of lung cancer, and the histopathologic features are sometimes difficult to distinguish from primary skin tumors. Secondary cutaneous lesions caused by a metastatic process have a poorer clinical prognosis than any other primary cutaneous mimic. We report a case of multiple cutaneous nodules initially mistaken for benign skin lesions and treated unsuccessfully. Histological analysis revealed an underlying lung carcinoma in a woman with no prior medical history and no smoking history. This case demonstrates the need for more thorough evaluation of treatment-resistant skin nodules, as cutaneous metastases may represent the initial manifestation of an internal malignancy.