Wandering Cancer Cells: Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma Without Evidence of a Primary Tumor

Cureus. 2022 Jun 24;14(6):e26305. doi: 10.7759/cureus.26305. eCollection 2022 Jun.

Abstract

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) usually presents clinically in the advanced stage including bone metastasis. However metastatic RCC without evidence of a primary tumor in the kidney is extremely rare. We herein report a case of a 70-year-old male initially evaluated for bone lesion and diagnosed with biopsy-proven metastatic clear cell RCC without a renal primary. Given the rare nature of the disease, there is no standardized course of treatment that has yet been established. We believe that our case will add to the body of knowledge about uncommon oncologic instances and consolidate the information that has already been published.

Keywords: clear renal cell carcinoma; oncology imaging; renal neoplasm; renal pathology; unknown primary site.

Publication types

  • Case Reports