Pitfalls and delay in the diagnosis of Pancoast tumour presenting in orthopaedic units

Pancoast tumours present a difficult and peculiar problem. Their clinical m anifestations may be extrapulmonary. The underlying lesion may be missed in patients presenting with predominantly orthopaedic symptoms. We present fo ur consecutive cases, which were referred to our clinic and the diagnosis w as made with mean delay of 18.5 months from the beginning of symptoms.