Isolated Nail Dystrophy: An Unlikely Presentation of Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma

Abstract

Metastasis of any malignancy to the nail unit is uncommon, and only a handful of cases of subungual renal cell carcinoma (RCC) metastasis have been reported. We describe a case of isolated nail dystrophy that proved to be the presenting symptom of a previously undetected RCC. In a patient presenting with a subungual lesion, tumor metastasis to the nail unit should be included in the clinical differential diagnosis in both oncology patients and previously cancer-free individuals, as a subungual metastasis may be the first indication of a clinically silent visceral malignancy.

<p>Rare Site Hepatocellular Carcinoma Metastasis</p>

“…Metastasis in the nail-bed are extremely rare. Only three cases can be found in the literature: from a rectal cancer, 18 from renal carcinoma 19 and from prostate cancer. 20 After analyzing the RSHM cases including ours (Table 1), we intended to answer the previous questions.…”

Renal Cell Carcinoma (RCC) Stain Negative Metastatic Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma Masquerading as a Pyogenic Granuloma on the Scalp

“…McClees et al described a unique case of metastatic RCC presenting as isolated nail dystrophy. 10 Histologic confirmation of these diseases is crucial for accurate and prompt diagnosis. Various cutaneous tumors can mimic metastatic clear cell renal cell carcinoma histologically including epithelioid angiomyolipoma, metastatic clear cell adenocarcinoma, balloon cell melanoma, angiosarcoma, clear cell squamous cell carcinoma, and malignant hidradenoma.…”