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Case Reports
. 2011 Apr 12;5(1):166-71.
doi: 10.1159/000326963.

Isolated splenic metastasis from renal cell carcinoma: case report and review

J A G Moir  1 , G Sen, R Saif, B Haugk, J J French
Affiliations
Case Reports

Isolated splenic metastasis from renal cell carcinoma: case report and review

J A G Moir et al. Case Rep Gastroenterol. .

Abstract

This report presents the case of a 70-year-old woman with a previous history of a left nephrectomy for renal cell carcinoma (RCC), who developed general malaise and fatigue. Abdominal computed tomography demonstrated an enhancing 6 × 7 cm necrotic lesion in the lower pole of the spleen suggestive of a metastasis. Given the highly suspicious nature of the lesion we proceeded to splenectomy. The tumour did not breach the splenic capsule, and there was no local diaphragmatic involvement. The mass was concluded to be a true metastasis of the original RCC rather than local recurrence of the disease. The causes of isolated solid splenic lesions are wide and varied, however a past or present history of malignancy should lead to a high index of suspicion for a splenic metastasis. We report an extremely unusual case of spread from a RCC.

Keywords: Metastasis; Renal cell carcinoma; Spleen.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Macroscopic appearance of removed spleen containing tumour.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Histology from splenic metastasis showing tumour cells with both clear and eosinophilic cytoplasm. The cells have moderately pleomorphic nuclei, some with very prominent nucleoli. Focally multilobulated nuclei are also seen.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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