Clinical features of skin metastasis from lung cancer

Metastasis to the skin from lung cancer is less common than metastasis to other organs. We clinically reviewed 16 cases of skin metastasis. The incidence of skin metastasis was 2.8% among all 579 cases of lung cancer. Large cell carcinoma showed the greatest tendency to spread to the skin and epidermoid carcinoma showed the least tendency. The most common sites for skin lesions were the back. Almost all lesions ranged from 1 to 5 cm in diameter. Clinical manifestation of skin metastasis was nodular type in all cases. At the development of skin metastasis, all cases were accompanied by metastasis to other organs. There was only a slight response to combination chemotherapy carried out 5 cases for lung cancer, and most lesions were progressive. Median survival after skin involvement was approximately 4 months.