Metastatic renal cell carcinoma in the neck: an unusual presentation.
Metastasis of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) to the head and neck region is infrequent. A rare case of metastatic RCC, presenting as an enlarging neck mass and radiologically mimicking a carotid body tumour clinically and radiographically, presented in a 68-year-old male patient, 18 months after radical nephrectomy for RCC. It is estimated that 14-16% of all patients with renal cell carcinomas have metastases above the clavicle. However, there are no reported cases of metastatic renal cell carcinoma to the neck mimicking a carotid body tumour.


CONCLUSIONS
Renal cell carcinoma is the third most common neoplasm to metastasize to the head and neck region following breast and lung carcinomas.
Chhabra
Purnima
P
University Hospital Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TH, UK.
Bhatt
Vyomesh
V
Brown
Andrew M S
AM
D000368:Aged; D002292:Carcinoma, Renal Cell / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary*; D002345:Carotid Body Tumor / Q000175:diagnosis; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004621:Embolization, Therapeutic; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000556:secondary*; D006801:Humans; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009392:Nephrectomy