Sternal Metastasis of Lung Cancer: A Case Report and a Review of the Literature

Abstract

Primary sternal cancer is exceptionally rare. Secondary sternal cancer typically arises when cancer spreads either through the bloodstream from other sites or directly from neighboring lung or breast cancers. Pain is the primary symptom, but these metastases can lead to skeletal-related events such as pathological fractures, hypercalcemia, and spinal cord or nerve compression, necessitating surgical or radiotherapy interventions. These events contribute to increased morbidity and costs for both patients and the healthcare system. We report the case of a 63-year-old female patient who presented with a sternal mass and whose further investigations revealed metastatic lung cancer in the sternum.