A patient with porocarcinoma of the lower extremity and lung metastasis: a rare case report

BACKGROUND: Porocarcinoma is a rare cancer of the developing sweat glands. It often occurs in older adults and frequently affects the head, neck, and extremities. We report a rare case of metastatic porocarcinoma with intriguing approach of the diagnosis and management due to limited resource setting. CASE REPORT: A 60-year-old man with a history of type 2 diabetes mellitus presented with nodules on the left foot with no palpable lymph node. A chest radiograph revealed multiple coin lesions and histopathological findings were suggestive for porocarcinoma. We assessed the case as a metastatic porocarcinoma in a patient with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes mellitus. Surgery was performed in the initial phase of treatment, consisting of below-knee amputation. The patient refused the planned chemotherapy in the referral hospital and then underwent other modalities of palliative care. He passed away eleven months after the initial diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: Metastatic porocarcinoma is a rare oncological case with a challenging approach of the diagnosis and management. High awareness of clinical clues in rare cancer is needed for early diagnosis and prompt treatment, especially in limited resource settings.