Metastasis of Hypopharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma to the Kidney-A Case Report

Abstract

Background: Metastases to the kidneys are a relatively rare entity as the 5th most common site for metastatic spread of solid tumors following the lungs, liver, bones and adrenals. The most common location of a primary tumor to metastasize to the kidney is lung, followed by breast, gastro-intestinal tract and head and neck cancers. To our knowledge this is the first reported case of a head and neck squamous cell carcinoma that metastasized to the kidney for which the patient underwent nephrectomy and retroperitoneal lymph node dissection. Case report: A 66 year old male with a past medical history of T3c N2b M0 hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma presented to Urology clinic for consultation regarding a left renal mass. The patient underwent a laparoscopic left nephrectomy and retroperitoneal lymph node dissection. Pathology returned a 10cm ill-defined mass located in left kidney and a 4.5cm mass in the resected lymph nodes with extra nodal extension. Tumor markers and gene mutations were consistent with the patient’s history of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Discussion: Metastatic disease to the kidneys is a rare occurrence that can be challenging to manage, with head and neck serving as a rare source for the primary tumor. The laparoscopic nephrectomy was performed with curative intent as the patient had no evidence of recurrence elsewhere at the time of surgery, with the assumption that the mass was a primary RCC. This case exemplifies the role for percutaneous renal biopsy in patients with a history of primary malignancies in other organ systems.