Acrometastases: The nasty alter ego of fingertip infections

Abstract

Fingertip infections are commonly diagnosed in primary care. There is a serious condition, acrometastases, that is often mistaken for these infections. Acrometastases are defined as metastases located distal to the elbow or knee. We present a case of a malignant phyllodes tumour with acrometastases to the distal phalanx of the left middle finger that was misdiagnosed as a fingertip infection on 2 separate occasions, highlighting the need for vigilance regarding acrometastases.

Keywords

• acrometastases
• breast