Metastatic tumours of bones of the hand and foot. A comparative review and report of 43 additional cases.

Metastases in the bones of the hands and feet are rare. The literature relating to these tumours has been reviewed, and 43 new cases are reported. In the cumulative total of cases, metastases to the hand outnumber those to the foot 2:1 (196 cases as against 94). Bronchial carcinoma is the most common neoplasm metastasising to the hand. Subdiaphragmatic neoplasms such as gastrointestinal, vesical, renal and uterine malignancies, metastasize more frequently to the foot. A possible explanation for this latter finding is the retrograde spread of tumour emboli from the vertebral venous plexus down incompetent leg veins.