Abdominal wall metastases due to a squamous cell carcinoma of the lung: case report and literature review

Abstract

Introduction: At the time of diagnosis, most patients with lung cancer are in an inoperable stage, with distant metastases. Most often, these patients have metastases to the brain, adrenal glands, liver, or bones. This article presents the case of a patient with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) metastases in the abdominal wall.

Case presentation: A 67-year-old patient came to our service reporting the existence of a tumor 5 cm in diameter, located at the level of the abdominal wall, without other clinical symptoms. Surgical excision of the tumor was performed. The postoperative evolution was favorable, with the patient discharged on the third postoperative day. Histological examination of the resected specimen revealed metastasis of squamous cell carcinoma of the lung.

Conclusions: The appearance of a tumor in the abdominal wall of patients with NSCLC may raise the suspicion of metastasis at this level.

Keywords: lung cancer, abdominal wall, metastases