Skeletal muscle metastasis from a conventional renal cell carcinoma, two years after nephrectomy: a case report

• Published in: Acta chirurgica belgica Vol. 102; no. 5; pp. 351 - 352
• Main Authors: SCHATTEMAN, P, WILLEMSEN, P, VANDERVEKEN, M, LOCKEFEER, F, VANDEBROEK, A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bruxelles Acta medica Belgica 01-10-2002
• Subjects: Aged; Biological and medical sciences; Carcinoma, Renal Cell - diagnosis; Carcinoma, Renal Cell - secondary; Diagnosis, Differential; Diseases of the osteoarticular system; Humans; Kidney Neoplasms - pathology; Kidneys; Male; Medical sciences; Muscle Neoplasms - diagnosis; Muscle Neoplasms - secondary; Muscle, Skeletal - pathology; Nephrectomy; Nephrology. Urinary tract diseases; Sarcoma - diagnosis; Time Factors; Tumors of striated muscle and skeleton; Tumors of the urinary system; Kidney disease; Human; Late; Urinary system disease; Metastasis; Malignant tumor; Kidney; Case study; Trapezius muscle; Striated muscle disease; Treatment; Nephrectomy; Surgery; Complication; Hypernephroma; skeletal muscle; Bibliographic review
• ISSN: 0001-5458
• DOI: 10.1080/00015458.2002.11679332

In this paper, we describe a case of skeletal muscle metastasis from a conventional (clear cell) renal cell carcinoma, two years after nephrectomy. Our first clinical tentative diagnosis was soft tissue tumour, showing the mimicking capacity of renal cell carcinoma. A review of literature shows that skeletal muscle metastases from renal cell carcinoma are extremely rare: only 16 cases have been described. In 5/16, the muscle mass was the initial manifestation of the renal tumour. In the other 11/16, the muscle masses were metachronous (10 months-16 years). We conclude that, when confronted with a patient with a muscle mass and a history of renal cell carcinoma, one should always keep in mind the possibility of a (late) renal cell carcinoma metastasis.