Osseous metastases in the hand. A general review of three cases.
Osseous metastases in the hand are rare. The authors report 3 cases, bringing the total number of reported cases up to 106. They affect mainly men; their clinical features are local swelling and pain frequently ascribed to a trauma. The diagnosis is often mistaken, many patients being initially treated for a distal felon. Distal phalanx is the main involved area, with irregular osteolysis and cortical destruction. The etiology is quite different from that of metastases to other bones: bronchopulmonary cancer is by far the most frequent with 46% of cases, followed by breast cancer (15%). Other types of cancer are much less frequently involved. The evolution is sombre; average life expectancy is 3 1/2 months. Treatment may involve, as needed, distal digital amputation on antalgic radiotherapy.
D000368:Aged; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000556:secondary*; D005260:Female; D005385:Fingers; D006225:Hand; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011859:Radiography