title: A painful finger as first sign of a malignancy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Bone metastases are frequently seen in patients with malignancies, but only 0.007% to 0.3% of these metastases are located in the hand or foot. In 16%, the metastasis is the first manifestation of a malignancy. These acrometastases have a poor prognoses with a median survival of 6 months. Treatment is usually palliative and consists of radiation or amputation.
  
  
  METHODS
  An 83-year-old woman was seen with pain and swelling of the right middle finger since 3 months. A radiograph of this finger showed a lytic lesion of the proximal phalanx. A metastasis, primary bone tumor, or osteomyelitis was considered. Because of a radically resected colon carcinoma in patient's medical history, the carcinoembryonic antigen level was analyzed and proved to be elevated. Computed tomography scan of thorax and abdomen showed 2 (primary) pulmonary tumors with mesenteric metastases. Patient refrained from further analysis and treatment of these lung tumors. However, because of persistent pain the right middle finger was amputated. Pathological examination of the finger confirmed the diagnosis of an adenocarcinoma most likely to be a metastasis of lung cancer. Lung cancer is in most cases responsible for metastases in the hand.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Acrometastasis may be the first manifestation of malignancy. Given the poor prognosis, early diagnosis is important to offer adequate treatment. Delay of appropriate treatment can adversely affect the quality of life in these often preterminal patients. This case report could contribute to a (more) rapid recognition of acrometastases as patients with acrometastases are often presented to specialists who do not frequently deal with cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Trauma Surgery, ZGT Almelo, Almelo, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Linde M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: van Veenendaal
authors.affiliation: Department of Trauma Surgery, ZGT Almelo, Almelo, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Gijs
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: de Klerk
authors.affiliation: Department of Trauma Surgery, ZGT Almelo, Almelo, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Detlef
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: van der Velde
keywords: acrometastasis; musculoskeletal tumor surgery; oncology; surgery; upper extremity surgery