Coughing up: 'Adenosquamous carcinoma lung with unusual initial presentation as an ulceroproliferative growth' - Case report and review of literature

Abstract

Lung carcinoma is the most common carcinoma seen in males with the skin being a rare metastatic site. Adenosquamous carcinoma as a rare histologic subtype, showing cutaneous metastasis is an unusual event with no reports in the literature till date. Skin metastasis is an alarming sign, carries poor prognosis, and is associated with shortened survival. Herein, we report a case of 60-year-old male who presented with isolated cutaneous metastasis as a chronic nonhealing ulcer over the sternal region for 3 years (unusual) in the first place, without any other associated symptoms and clinical evidence of the primary. Wide local excision of the lesion was performed after proper workup which revealed metastatic adenosquamous carcinoma. The patient was advised systemic chemotherapy. A high index of suspicion along with clinico-radio-pathological correlation in these cases is of utmost importance and forms the basis of accurate diagnosis.