Unexpected Gallbladder Metastasis of Clear Cell Renal Carcinoma

Abstract

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) commonly metastasizes to areas such as the lungs, liver, bone, brain, adrenals, and lymph nodes. We present a rare case of a 59-year-old female patient with RCC metastasis to the gallbladder. The patient had undergone right nephrectomy for RCC more than 6 years prior to the metastasis. During routine follow-up, a polypoid lesion of the gallbladder was identified. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy was performed, and pathologic examination of the specimen revealed metastatic RCC. The patient was completely asymptomatic, which reinforces the importance of postoperative follow-up. Renal cell carcinoma is one of the few common malignancies for which there is good evidence of survival benefit from surgical resection of the metastatic tumours.

Renal cell carcinoma with gallbladder metastasis: a case report

“…There is no definitive treatment strategy for gallbladder metastasis of RCC [ 13 ]. Most patients with gallbladder metastasis of RCC at diagnosis have a widespread disease with several metastases in other organs, and their prognosis is poor [ 3 ].…”

“…Most patients with gallbladder metastasis of RCC at diagnosis have a widespread disease with several metastases in other organs, and their prognosis is poor [ 3 ]. However, in fewer cases, the gallbladder is the unique location of metastasis [ 13 ]. The clinical practice guideline for RCC in Japan reviewed that metastasectomy is expected to improve survival for RCC patients if they have good performance status and a long disease-free period, and complete resection is possible [ 12 ].…”

“…The clinical practice guideline for RCC in Japan reviewed that metastasectomy is expected to improve survival for RCC patients if they have good performance status and a long disease-free period, and complete resection is possible [ 12 ]. In this context, simple cholecystectomy may be enough to completely remove the gallbladder metastasis located and would be sufficient treatment for the management of the metastasis of the gallbladder with a primary RCC [ 13 ], leading to a better outcome and survival, like our patient [ 7 ]. The recurrence rate in the recent literature review was mentioned as about 48% [ 4 ], while Chung et al conducted a study following 33 patients and ultimately found a five-year survival rate of 35%-50% following the procedure, and the authors mentioned that the prognosis was significantly decreased if multiple metastatic sites had occurred [ 14 ].…”

Gallenblasenmetastase eines malignen Melanoms

“…Neben dem Melanom betrifft dies das hämatogen metastasierende klarzellige Nierenzellkarzinom oder eine lokale Infiltration durch ein hepatozelluläres Karzinom [5].…”

Letter to the Editor: How Is Gallbladder Metastasis From Renal Cell Carcinoma Depicted on Ultrasound?

“…To the Editor, I am interested in ultrasound diagnosis of the depth invasion of gallbladder carcinoma (GBC). I read the case report article by White et al 1 with great interest. However, the title beginning with "unexpected" does not seem quite appropriate.…”