Lung cancer presenting as heel pain: A case report

  • Authors:
    • Hao Dai
    • Minfei Qiang
    • Yanxi Chen
    • Weitao Zhai
    • Kun Zhang
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: May 22, 2014     https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2014.2164
  • Pages: 736-738
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Abstract

Bone metastasis as the first symptom of lung cancer is common, particularly in the axial skeleton. The calcaneus is an unusual site of metastatic involvement. Chronic plantar heel pain (CPHP) is one of the most common complaints of the foot requiring medical treatment. The most typical symptom of CPHP is pain under the medial heel during weight‑bearing, and this symptom is therefore generally initially diagnosed as CPHP by clinicians. The current case study reports a female patient never‑smoker with non‑small cell lung cancer accompanied by calcaneal metastasis presenting as heel pain. The patient was initially diagnosed with CPHP without any imaging examinations. As there was no relief from the heel pain six months later, a foot X‑ray was performed, which revealed a lesion of the calcaneus. The analysis of a biopsy obtained from the lesion resulted in a diagnosis of adenocarcinoma. The present case indicates that patients suspected to have CPHP should be conventionally examined with radiography of the foot during the initial diagnosis. Similarly, if a patient with lung cancer has symptoms such as CPHP, distant metastasis should be accounted for; despite their rarity, clinicians should maintain a high level of suspicion, since accurate diagnosis and timely treatment is important in management and outcome.
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August-2014
Volume 8 Issue 2

Print ISSN: 1792-1074
Online ISSN:1792-1082

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Spandidos Publications style
Dai H, Qiang M, Chen Y, Zhai W and Zhang K: Lung cancer presenting as heel pain: A case report. Oncol Lett 8: 736-738, 2014
APA
Dai, H., Qiang, M., Chen, Y., Zhai, W., & Zhang, K. (2014). Lung cancer presenting as heel pain: A case report. Oncology Letters, 8, 736-738. https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2014.2164
MLA
Dai, H., Qiang, M., Chen, Y., Zhai, W., Zhang, K."Lung cancer presenting as heel pain: A case report". Oncology Letters 8.2 (2014): 736-738.
Chicago
Dai, H., Qiang, M., Chen, Y., Zhai, W., Zhang, K."Lung cancer presenting as heel pain: A case report". Oncology Letters 8, no. 2 (2014): 736-738. https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2014.2164