Nasal tip cutaneous metastases secondary to lung carcinoma: three case reports and a review of the literature

Acta Derm Venereol. 2013 Sep 4;93(5):569-72. doi: 10.2340/00015555-1529.

Abstract

Cutaneous metastatic carcinoma of the nose is a rare presentation associated with lung cancer. We report here 3 cases of cutaneous metastatic carcinoma of the nose that originated from lung cancer. Two men, age 61 and 76 years, with lung cancers were referred for evaluation of a tumour on the tip of the nose. The third patient, a 57-year-old man, had developed a rosacea-like tumour on the tip of the nose; although he had no history of internal cancer, whole-body positron-emission tomography-computed tomography revealed a primary lung cancer. Skin biopsies of all 3 cases showed metastatic squamous cell carcinoma, and all primary lung cancers were squamous cell carcinomas. Only 3 patients are described here, and further reports are needed to substantiate this interesting phenomenon. When an elderly patient presents to dermatology with a tumour on the nose with or without known internal cancer, it is necessary to approach the diagnosis with caution.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Biopsy
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / secondary*
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / therapy
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Humans
  • Lung Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Lung Neoplasms / therapy
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Multimodal Imaging / methods
  • Neoplasm Staging
  • Nose Neoplasms / secondary*
  • Nose Neoplasms / therapy
  • Positron-Emission Tomography
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Skin Neoplasms / secondary*
  • Skin Neoplasms / therapy
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Whole Body Imaging