[Metastasis of an adenocarcinoma of the colon to the 1st metacarpal bone].

The authors report a clinical case of metastasis to the first metacarpal arising from carcinoma of the colon, treated surgically four years previously. Clinical examination revealed painful swelling over the right thenar eminence. The diagnosis was established by radiology and needle biopsy. No treatment was administered and the patient died one month later. Metastases of the hand are uncommon and, according to the review of the international literature concerning bone metastases in the hand conducted by Kerin (1987), are usually secondary to lung, renal and breast cancers. Only a few cases have been described in the literature of bone metastases of the hand from carcinoma of the colon. The authors feel that some of these cases probably remain undiagnosed, as they are of secondary importance in view to the severity of the disease.