Acral Metastasis to the Hand as the Primary Presentation of Malignancy

Abstract

Metastatic hand tumors are uncommon but important to include in the differential diagnosis for hand masses. In this study, we report the case of a patient presenting initially with hand pain and swelling with no other pertinent medical history except for an extensive smoking history. Subsequent mass biopsy and work-up revealed metastatic lung cancer. Acral metastases to the hand as the first manifestation of a primary tumor are a rare but debilitating condition with a poor prognosis. Hand surgeons must remain aware of the potential for metastatic hand tumors in patients without known malignancy and advocate for the prompt initiation of multidisciplinary care and treatment to maximize patient outcomes.