A
Acrometastases are metastatic cancer lesions that occur in the extremities of the body — specifically the hands or feet, distal to the elbows or knees.
🔬 Definition:
-
Acro- = extremity (Greek)
-
Metastasis = spread of cancer from a primary site to a distant location
🧠 Acrometastases = metastatic cancer in the bones of the hands or feet
🧠 Key Facts:
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Rarity | Extremely rare — accounts for 0.1% of all bone metastases. |
| Common Primary Tumors | Most often from lung cancer (especially squamous cell), but also breast, kidney, and colon cancers. |
| Most Common Site | Distal phalanges of the hand, particularly the third finger. Foot involvement is less frequent. |
| Symptoms | Pain, swelling, redness, limited motion — can resemble infection (osteomyelitis) or arthritis. |
| Diagnosis | X-rays, MRI, bone scans, and biopsy to distinguish from infection or primary bone tumors. |
| Treatment | Often palliative: radiation, surgery (if painful), or amputation. Systemic therapy depends on primary tumor. |
🧩 Why Is It Important?
-
May be the first sign of an undiagnosed internal cancer.
-
Mimics benign conditions — often misdiagnosed.
-
Indicates advanced-stage disease with poor prognosis.
🩺 Clinical Pearl:
If an adult presents with unexplained pain or swelling in a finger or toe — especially with a history of cancer — think acrometastasis, even though it’s rare.
Would you like visual examples (e.g., radiographic images), or a short summary suitable for a medical note or patient explanation?
No comments:
Post a Comment