Metastasis of a malignant neoplasm involving the distal phalanx of the index finger – a case report

Abstract

Metastases to the hand and wrist are rare, constituting less than 0.01% of all metastases. Neoplasms which most commonly (although very rarely) lead to distant metastases to the hand include lung, breast and renal cancers. Bones of the phalanges are usually involved, followed by the metacarpus and wrist. We report a case of a neglected, metastatic tumor to the distal phalanx of the index finger which appeared in an 80-year-old female patient approx. 7 years after a left side nephrectomy due to renal cancer. The tumor grew slowly for 2 years, attaining a size of 2 x 1.5 cm. Besides neoplastic disease, the patient suffered from several, serious concomitant diseases. Treatment involved amputation of half of the index finger with the tumor. The healing of the finger was uneventful, but the patient died 4 weeks after surgery, probably due to cardiological disease.