Lung cancer and skeletal muscle metastases

Skeletal muscle metastases from lung cancer are rare, and the optimal treatment strategy is unknown. Three cases of skeletal muscle metastases from lung cancer are described. In 2 patients surgical biopsy of muscle swelling disclosed the presence of the lung tumor; the first patient underwent lung resection to remove the primary lesion, the second was not operable because of the metastatic extension of the disease. In the third patient muscle metastasis was observed and excised after lung resection. Adenocarcinoma, squamous cell, and small cell carcinoma were the histologic types diagnosed. Various regimens of radiotherapy and chemotherapy were adopted. Survival times were 3, 6, and 30 months. © 2004 by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons.