Metastatic malignancy of the hand.

Metastatic malignancies of the hand are infrequent and seldom initially diagnosed and often taken for infections. They usually occur at the late stage of metastatic generalization and indicate an ominous prognosis and justify surgical amputation. A case of metastasis to the distal phalanx of the left ring finger of a woman who had undergone radical mastectomy for breast cystosarcoma phylloides is reported. The evolution of this lesion, initially taken for a whitlow, lasted 45 days and eventually was treated by amputation. A review of literature confirms the rarity of the lesion, and reveals the pathological, clinical and radiographic characteristics.