Recurrence in skeletal muscle from squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix: a case report and review of the literature.
BACKGROUND
The occurrence of skeletal muscle metastases is a very rare event. Only two cases of late skeletal muscle recurrence from cervical cancer have been documented until now.


METHODS
A 38-year old patient, submitted to radical hysterectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy for a squamous FIGO stage IB1 cervical carcinoma, presented after 76 months with a palpable, and painless swelling on the left hemithorax. MRI showed a nodule located in the context of the intercostal muscles. Pathology revealed the presence of metastasis of squamous cell carcinoma of similar morphology as the primary. On the basis of FDG-PET findings, which excluded other sites of disease, surgical excision of the lesion was performed. The patient was triaged to chemotherapy plus external radiotherapy.


CONCLUSIONS
A case of skeletal muscle recurrence from cervical cancer after a very long interval from primary diagnosis is reported. Muscular pain or weakness, or just a palpable mass in a patient with a history of cancer has always to raise the suspicion of muscle metastasis.
Ferrandina
Gabriella
G
Gynecologic Oncology Unit, Catholic University, L.go Gemelli 8, 00168, Rome, Italy. gabriella.ferrandina@libero.it
Salutari
Vanda
V
Testa
Antonia
A
Zannoni
Gian Franco
GF
Petrillo
Marco
M
Scambia
Giovanni
G
D000328:Adult; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000556:secondary* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007044:Hysterectomy; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D019042:Muscle Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal; D010388:Pelvis; D035441:Thoracic Wall; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery