A Rare Subcutaneous Manifestation of Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma

Abstract

We report a rare case of advanced metastatic renal cell carcinoma which initially presented to the clinic with back and forehead lumps. Ultrasound imaging of the lumps and later of the abdomen picked up a right renal tumour which led to further computed tomography and bone scans. The bone scan confirmed that the forehead lump was a calvarial metastasis and such a presentation for metastatic RCC is very rare which bears a significantly poorer prognosis.

Metastatic renal cell carcinoma to the pancreas, thyroid, & subcutaneous tissue 13 years after Radical nephrectomy: A case report

“…RCC presents with a classical triad of: palpable mass, flank pain, and hematuria in almost 20% of cases, while in up to 40% of patients it presents with paraneoplastic syndrome. Only a few reported cases presented with metastatic lesions, which were most commonly found in intra-abdominal organs, brain, bones, and lungs [2,4]. RCC can metastasize even after decades of complete excision of the primary tumor, with around 30% of patients presenting with a recurrence years later [5].…”

“…Metastasis from RCC develop in one-third of the patients, and in such cases the prognosis is extremely poor and the disease is regarded as fatal [2]. RCC is also characterized by long periods of recurrence and a tendency for unusual metastatic spread [[2], [3], [4]]. The metastatic pathway of RCC is not predictable partially owing to its complex lymphatic drainage, with the commonest sites of metastasis being the adrenals, lungs, brain, and liver [2].…”

Imaging and Screening of Kidney Cancer

“…RCC can metastasize to virtually any part of the human body with case reports documenting recurrence in the subcutaneous tissues, oral cavity, and testicle 102–104 . However, the lungs are the most common site of metastatic disease in RCC 105 .…”