title: Subungual metastasis from a rectal primary: case report and review of the literature.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Subungual metastases from colorectal cancer are unusual and have mainly been reported in patients with lung, genitourinary, and breast cancer.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We present the case of a 72-year-old man with rectal adenocarcinoma and a subungual metastasis to the left thumb 5 years later.
  
  
  METHODS
  A case report and a brief review of the literature of subungual metastases are given.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The thumb was amputated and the patient died 6 months later with extensive metastatic disease.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Metastatic carcinoma should be considered in the differential diagnosis of persistent subungual masses, particularly in patients with a history of cancer. The prognosis with such lesions is generally poor.
authors: Department of Pathology, James Paton Memorial Hospital, Gander, NL, Canada. bgallagher@cehcib.nf.ca
authors: Barry
authors: B
authors: Gallagher
authors: George
authors: G
authors: Yousef
authors: Leigh
authors: L
authors: Bishop