Metastatic Renal‐Cell Carcinoma Presenting as a Cutaneous Horn

Abstract

Renal-cell carcinoma develops as an insidious neoplasm, frequently metastasizing to the skin. Cutaneous manifestations vary regarding morphology and sites of predilection. A patient was recently seen demonstrating a metastasis from a renal neoplasm. The lesion was unusual in that it grossly resembled a cutaneous horn. Dermatologists should continue to be alert to the possibility of renal tumor metastasis when evaluating cutaneous tumors.

Renal Cell Carcinoma Presenting with Cutaneous Metastasis: A Case Report

“…The rich vascular component of cutaneous metastasis in RCC may cause clinical confusion with hemangiomas, pyogenic granulomas, and Kaposi's sarcoma [3–5, 10]. The morphological appearance of the lesion's surface can also imitate cutaneous cysts, cutaneous horns, lymphomas, or abscesses [11–15]. RCC has been diagnosed through cutaneous metastasis when the primary tumor was too small to be detected or had an involution [8, 16].…”

Renal Cell Carcinoma Metastatic to the Scalp: Case Report and Review of the Literature

“…Metastatic renal cell carcinoma to the skin is a rare but known occurrence. About 25% of patients with renal cell carcinoma have distant metastatic lesions at the time of initial assessment 2 . However, our patient developed metastatic lesions of the left bicep and left posterior parietal scalp postnephrectomy at 5.5 years and 6 years, respectively.…”

Renal cell carcinoma presenting as a cutaneous horn and nodules on the gingiva and scalp

“…To our knowledge, there has been only one case report, in 1983, of renal cell carcinoma presenting as a cutaneous horn. In that instance, the patient had undergone left radical nephrectomy for renal-cell carcinoma diagnosed 7 years ago 11. In our patient, however, it was the primary presentation.…”