Pathologic fracture of the distal tibia secondary to melanoma: A case report of a very rare entity

Foot Ankle Surg. 2012 Mar;18(1):e18-20. doi: 10.1016/j.fas.2011.10.008. Epub 2011 Nov 18.

Abstract

Malignant melanoma is not a common cause of cancer metastasis to the skeleton, however, when melanoma does metastasize, one of the most common sites is the skeleton. In the literature, there are very few reports of bone metastasis and bone fracture from malignant melanoma, but they do clearly occur. When skeletal metastasis from malignant melanoma occurs, it is a sign of a very serious stage of the disease. We here present a case of a 39-year-old man with a history of ankle pain since an ankle sprain two months before, who was remitted to our unit with the diagnosis of pathological fracture of the distal tibia secondary to disseminated melanoma.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Biopsy, Needle
  • Bone Neoplasms / complications*
  • Bone Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Bone Neoplasms / secondary
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Fracture Fixation, Internal / methods
  • Fractures, Spontaneous / diagnosis
  • Fractures, Spontaneous / etiology*
  • Fractures, Spontaneous / surgery
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Melanoma / complications*
  • Melanoma / diagnosis
  • Melanoma / secondary
  • Skin Neoplasms / complications*
  • Skin Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging
  • Skin Neoplasms / pathology
  • Tibia*
  • Tibial Fractures / diagnosis
  • Tibial Fractures / etiology*
  • Tibial Fractures / surgery
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed