article · Scholars Journal of Medical Case Reports
An 83-year-old male with a history of high-risk scalp cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma presented with hemoptysis. A thoracic computed tomography scan revealed a cavitary lung lesion. Because the patient presented in Morocco, where tuberculosis is endemic, infectious causes were initially suspected, though diagnostic workups for infection returned negative. A biopsy confirmed metastatic cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma, indicated by p40 positivity and the absence of granulomas. The patient subsequently underwent video-assisted thoracoscopic metastasectomy. Cavitary pulmonary metastases from cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma are exceptionally rare and create significant diagnostic challenges. Malignancy should be included in the differential diagnosis of cavitary lung lesions in patients with a history of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma. In addition, local surgical intervention serves as a valid therapeutic approach for selected oligometastatic patients.
Cavitary lung lesions are frequently presumed to be infectious in origin, particularly in regions where tuberculosis is common. Recognising that skin cancers can spread to the lungs as cavitary metastases ensures patients receive prompt, accurate diagnoses rather than inappropriate treatments, while demonstrating that minimally invasive surgical resection can effectively manage targeted metastatic disease.
The abstract describes a single clinical case report and does not indicate an application pathway.
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We report a rare case of cavitary pulmonary metastasis from cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC). An 83-year-old male with a history of high-risk scalp cSCC presented with hemoptysis. Thoracic CT scan revealed a cavitary lung lesion. Given the endemic context in Morocco, infectious etiologies like tuberculosis were initially suspected, but the workup was negative. Biopsy confirmed metastatic cSCC (p40 positive, no granulomas). The patient underwent video-assisted thoracoscopic metastasectomy. Cavitary pulmonary metastases from cSCC are exceptional and pose a diagnostic challenge. This case highlights the need to include malignancy in the differential diagnosis of cavitary lesions in patients with a history of cSCC. Furthermore, local treatment of metastases, particularly surgery, represents a valid therapeutic option for selected oligometastatic patients.
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DOI: 10.36347/sjmcr.2026.v14i08.017
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