From the Guidelines
Lung cancer metastasizing to the groin is a rare occurrence, with less than 5% of cases reported, as indicated by a recent case study in 2023 1. When lung cancer spreads, it typically metastasizes to the brain, liver, adrenal glands, bones, and other lung areas before affecting the groin lymph nodes.
- The mechanism for groin metastasis involves cancer cells traveling through lymphatic or blood vessels to distant sites, with the groin being an unusual destination due to the lymphatic drainage patterns of the lungs.
- A case study published in The Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons in 2023 1 highlights a patient with a 4-year history of previously controlled metastatic lung carcinoma who experienced groin and thigh pain, indicating the potential for late-stage disease progression.
- Groin metastases from lung cancer usually represent advanced disease, typically stage IV, which is treated systemically with chemotherapy, immunotherapy, targeted therapy, or a combination approach rather than local treatments alone.
- Patients with unexplained groin swelling or pain who have a history of lung cancer should be evaluated promptly, as this finding may indicate disease progression requiring treatment adjustment, as seen in the case study 1.
From the Research
Metastasis of Lung Cancer to the Groin
- Lung cancer metastasizing to the groin is a rare occurrence, with most cases of inguinal metastases originating from tumors in the genital and reproductive organs, skin, rectum or anus, or urinary bladder 2, 3.
- There have been reported cases of lung cancer metastasizing to the inguinal lymph nodes, with only a few cases recognized and reported in detail in the English medical literature 2.
- A case study reported a patient with adenocarcinoma of the lung who presented with a large fungating mass in the right groin, which was found to be a metastasis from the lung cancer 3.
- The incidence of lung cancer metastasizing to the groin is not well-documented, but it is considered to be an unusual site for distant metastasis of lung cancer 3.
Clinical Presentation and Diagnosis
- Patients with lung cancer metastasizing to the groin may present with symptoms such as a palpable mass in the groin, shortness of breath, worsening cough, and wheezing 3.
- Diagnosis is typically made through a combination of physical examination, imaging studies such as CT scans, and biopsy of the affected lymph node 3.
Treatment and Prognosis
- Treatment for lung cancer metastasizing to the groin typically involves a multidisciplinary approach, including surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy 3.
- The prognosis for patients with lung cancer metastasizing to the groin is generally poor, with a limited overall survival rate 3.
- However, there are ongoing studies investigating new treatment options, such as combination chemotherapy and immunotherapy regimens, which may improve outcomes for patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer 4, 5, 6.