Rare solitary sternal metastasis of renal cell carcinoma

Abstract

© 2008, Oncology Institute of Vojvodina, Sremska Kamenica Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) often metastasizes to skeleton. However, solitary metastasis in sternum is rare (1). Spontaneous regression of RCC metastases is rare and accounts for less than 1% of all cases (1,2). Isolated metastatic lesion in sternum may be resected followed by local reconstruction (3). Most frequent treatment mode is radiotherapy, which achieves good palliation. Sixty-three years old male patient noticed rapid painless growth of solid tumefaction in sternum in May 2007. Biopsy of sternal tumor mass was performed four months later and histopathological findings confirmed RCC. The patient was examined by computer tomography (CT) of abdomen, which verified tumor of the left kidney – T4N0M1 (CS IV) (Figure 1a). Nephrectomy was done on October 17, 2007 and solitary sternal metastasis was treated by palliative radiotherapy in total dose of 20 Gy in five fractions (Figure 1b). During 8 months since then, the patient has been receiving chemotherapy with vinblastine. He comes for regular checkups.