Metastatic carcinomatous arthritis and carcinoma of the lung. A report of two cases diagnosed by synovial fluid cytology.

Arthritis is rarely caused by metastatic carcinomatous deposits in and about joints. Two patients with bronchogenic carcinoma and metastatic carcinomatous arthritis (MCA) are described. The diagnosis was established by the demonstration of malignant cells in the synovial fluid. Histology of the synovium, in 1 case, revealed several metastatic carcinomatous deposits. This report emphasizes the value of synovial fluid exfoliative cytology in the early recognition of MCA so that appropriate palliative therapy can be implemented.