Turkish Journal of Pathology

Türk Patoloji Dergisi

Turkish Journal of Pathology

Turkish Journal of Pathology

2010, Vol 26, Num, 3     (Pages: 261-263)

Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma Initially Presented as a Tongue Mass

Deniz ALTINEL 1, Demet ETİT 1, Ayça TAN 1, Ümit BAYOL 1, Volkan BULUT 2, Işın Gökçöl ERDOĞAN 1, Rafet BEYHAN 1, Yusuf YALÇIN 3

1 Department of Pathology, İzmir Tepecik Education and Research Hospital, İZMİR, TURKEY
2 Department of Urology, İzmir Tepecik Education and Research Hospital, İZMİR, TURKEY
3 Department of Otorhinolaryngology, İzmir Tepecik Education and Research Hospital, İZMİR, TURKEY

DOI: 10.5146/tjpath.2010.01036
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Renal cell carcinoma is one of the most common tumours after lung and breast cancer to metastasize to the head and neck. Initial presentation by tongue metastasis is extremely rare. A 67-year-oldmale presented with a 4.8 cm mass on his tongue. The result of the punch biopsy from the tongue was diagnosed as a clear cell variant of squamous cell carcinoma. The biopsy was reevaluated due to the renal mass found during the check-up and the rapid enlargement of the mass. The excision of the tongue mass and the radical nephrectomy material confirmed the diagnosis of a metastatic renal cell carcinoma in the tongue and renal cell carcinoma in the kidney. Since metastasis of renal cell carcinoma to the tongue is uncommon it may cause difficulties in diagnosis and proper management. The metastasis of renal cell carcinoma should always be considered in the differential diagnosis among the clear cell neoplasms.

Keywords : Renal cell carcinoma, Metastasis, Tongue