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

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Renal cell carcinoma metastatic to the skin is rare. OBJECTIVE: To illustrate by a case report the clinical presentation and management of the disease. METHODS: We present a case of renal carcinoma metastatic to the skin of the scalp that occurred 6 years after removal of her kidney. The tumor was diagnosed using frozen tissue and paraffin sections. RESULTS: Cutaneous metastasis treated by excision. CONCLUSION: Renal cell carcinoma may metastasize to the skin of the scalp. Our case illustrated an interesting ipsilateral metastasis that occurred 6 years after treatment of her primary tumor. Physicians, dermatologists, pathologists, and Mohs surgeons should be aware of this entity.