Metastatic renal cell carcinoma to the head and neck area.
OBJECTIVE
Metastases of renal cell carcinoma to the head and neck are rare. We report on three cases with tumor spread to this area (nasal cavity, tongue and larynx) and present a review of the literature.


METHODS
The first patient presented with lung and nasal cavity metastases five years after renal tumor resection. In patient 2 the diagnosis of primary renal carcinoma and lung and tongue metastases was concomitant. In case 3 a primary kidney tumor was not suspected until radical resection of a tongue lesion was performed.


RESULTS
The first two patients received radiation therapy. They had been previously treated with interleukin + interferon and vinblastine + interleukin 2 and achieved a survival of 14 and 16 months, respectively. The third patient has not been given any treatment to date (apart from surgery) and remains asymptomatic four years after diagnosis.


CONCLUSIONS
In patients with cell carcinoma the occurrence of lesions in the head and neck area may suggest metastases. In some cases they may precede the diagnosis of a renal tumor and mimic a primary head and neck tumor; otolaryngologists should be aware of this possibility. An individualized treatment approach is recommended. In the case of solitary metastases a surgical excision should be performed as palliation, if not cure.
Navarro
F
F
Department of Medical Oncology, Clínica Puerta de Hierro, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Spain.
Vicente
J
J
Villanueva
M J
MJ
Sánchez
A
A
Provencio
M
M
España
P
P
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002292:Carcinoma, Renal Cell / Q000473:pathology*; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary*; D006801:Humans; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged