Single Skull Metastasis 15 Years after Primary Treatment of Prostate Cancer and with Undetectable PSA Levels: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Abstract

Prostate cancer is the first cause of skull metastases in men, accounting for 12–18% of all cases. This condition is generally a late event in the course of the disease, involving patients with disseminated lesions. Quite rarely is skull involvement the first and single site of distant recurrence. We report the case of a patient who developed a single skull lesion 15 years after primary treatment of prostate cancer, in the presence of undetectable PSA levels. Pathological assessment performed after resection of the lesion revealed a metastasis from prostate carcinoma. Basing on this experience the appearance of craniofacial pain or a nerve deficit in patients with a history of prostate cancer should alert the clinician to exclude distant recurrence of disease, even in the presence of undetectable PSA levels and even if many years have elapsed since the treatment of the primary tumor. Knowledge of these manifestations will reduce any diagnostic delay and lead to the effective delivery of appropriate treatment.