Oncoptysis as the primary presentation of metastatic melanoma: A case report.
Nini Phan, Anthony Hackett, Robert E Schmitt
✦ AI-curated · Sources linked
Case in brief
An 88-year-old female presented to the emergency department with cough and hemoptysis. She expectorated abnormal tissue, initially thought to be lung tissue. Imaging revealed an 8 × 7 cm mass in the right lower lobe, confirmed as metastatic malignant melanoma. After managing her respiratory distress, she opted for hospice care instead of aggressive chemotherapy.
What made this case unusual
This case is notable for the presentation of oncoptysis, where the patient expectorated tumor tissue, a rare occurrence in metastatic melanoma.
Diagnostic / clinical pearl
Clinicians should consider malignancy in the differential diagnosis of hemoptysis, especially in patients with a history of melanoma and atypical sputum.
Why it matters
This case emphasizes the need for careful diagnostic evaluation in unusual presentations of malignancy, which can inform palliative care decisions.