CUTANEOUS METASTASES OF LUNG-CANCER

The reported incidence of skin metastases from lung cancer varies from 2.8-7.5%. In the present study 8.7% of patients had skin metastases, with head and neck being the most common sites, nodular lesions the mo st common, and adenocarcinoma the most frequent histology. Although mo st patients develop these lesions during the course of a known progres sive they may be the presenting manifestation of a primary tumour in t he lung. The occurrence of skin lesions in lung cancer announces an om inous prognosis. The response to chemotherapy is poor, possibly due to poor blood supply to the skin; monitoring response to chemotherapy, h owever, is easier when such lesions are present.