Case report

Recurrence in skeletal muscle from squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix: a case report and review of the literature

Gabriella Ferrandina^1,3 , Vanda Salutari¹ , Antonia Testa¹ , Gian Franco Zannoni² , Marco Petrillo¹ and Giovanni Scambia³

¹  Gynecologic Oncology Unit, Catholic University, L.go Gemelli 8, 00168, Rome, Italy

²  Institute of Human Pathology, Catholic University, L.go Gemelli 8, 00168, Rome, Italy

³  Department of Oncology, Catholic University, Contrada Tappino, Campobasso, Italy

author email corresponding author email

BMC Cancer 2006, 6:169doi:10.1186/1471-2407-6-169

Published:	27 June 2006

Abstract

Background

The occurrence of skeletal muscle metastases is a very rare event. Only two cases of late skeletal muscle recurrence from cervical cancer have been documented until now.

Case presentation

A 38-year old patient, submitted to radical hysterectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy for a squamous FIGO stage IB1 cervical carcinoma, presented after 76 months with a palpable, and painless swelling on the left hemithorax. MRI showed a nodule located in the context of the intercostal muscles. Pathology revealed the presence of metastasis of squamous cell carcinoma of similar morphology as the primary. On the basis of FDG-PET findings, which excluded other sites of disease, surgical excision of the lesion was performed. The patient was triaged to chemotherapy plus external radiotherapy.

Conclusion

A case of skeletal muscle recurrence from cervical cancer after a very long interval from primary diagnosis is reported. Muscular pain or weakness, or just a palpable mass in a patient with a history of cancer has always to raise the suspicion of muscle metastasis.