Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma in the Neck: An Unusual Presentation

From Volume 36, Issue 8, October 2009 | Pages 511-513

Authors

Purnima Chhabra

MFDS, RCS

Senior House Officer, University Hospital Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TH, UK

Articles by Purnima Chhabra

Vyomesh Bhatt

MDS, FDS RCS, MRCS

Trust Senior House Officer, University Hospital Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TH, UK

Articles by Vyomesh Bhatt

AMS Brown

FDS, FRCS

Consultant Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon, University Hospital Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TH, UK

Articles by AMS Brown

Abstract

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.

Article