Renal Clear Cell Carcinoma and Tonsil Metastasis

Abstract

Renal cell carcinoma is the most common renal tumor in adults. Clear cell carcinoma represents 85% of all histological subtypes. In February 2012 a 72-year-old woman came to our department due to the appearance of massive hemoptysis and pharyngodinia. Previously, this patient was diagnosed with a renal cell carcinoma treated with left nephrectomy. We observed an exophytic, grayish, and ulcerated mass in the left tonsillar lodge and decided to subject the patient to an immediate tonsillectomy. Postoperative histology showed nests of cells with highly hyperchromatic nuclei and clear cytoplasm. These features enabled us to make the diagnosis of renal clear cell carcinoma metastasis. Only few authors described metastasis of renal cell carcinoma in this specific site.

Canine tonsillar neoplasia and tonsillar metastasis from various primary neoplasms

“…23 Human tonsillar metastasis most commonly occurs secondary to pulmonary neoplasia, gastrointestinal neoplasia, renal neoplasia, melanoma, breast cancer and rarely colorectal cancer. [24][25][26][27][28][29][30] In our study, metastasis to the tonsils from distant primary tumours was also uncommon in dogs, with only 9% of tonsillar neoplasia in this study being presumed metastatic. This was most common with melanoma, followed by carcinomas, hemangiosarcoma and a variety of other tumour types.…”

“…In humans, 0.8% of tonsillar neoplasia is considered metastatic 23 . Human tonsillar metastasis most commonly occurs secondary to pulmonary neoplasia, gastrointestinal neoplasia, renal neoplasia, melanoma, breast cancer and rarely colorectal cancer 24‐30 . In our study, metastasis to the tonsils from distant primary tumours was also uncommon in dogs, with only 9% of tonsillar neoplasia in this study being presumed metastatic.…”

Urothelial carcinoma with tonsillar metastasis in a dog

“…8,12,14 Reports of metastases to the tonsil originating from the urogenital system include renal cell neoplasia and seminoma. 1,7,13 In dogs, tonsillar metastases have included melanoma, carcinoma, salivary carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, hemangiosarcoma, basal cell tumor, fibrosarcoma, malignant histiocytosis, and undifferentiated sarcoma, the majority of which originated in the head and neck region. 9 To our knowledge, metastasis of urinary bladder urothelial carcinoma (UC) to the tonsil has not been reported in the human or veterinary literature.…”