Rare case of renal cell carcinoma presenting as a cutaneous horn

Cutaneous metastases are a rare and generally late manifestation of renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Because they can mimic other dermatologic lesions, they may pose a diagnostic challenge if there is not a high degree of suspicion of their underlying cause.

May 1, 2011|Hematology and Oncology

Louise Zhou, MD;Taren Ohman, MD;Robert Zaiden Jr., MD

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Affiliations: Dr. Zhou is a medical resident; Dr. Ohman is a fellow in medical oncology in the Department of Medicine; and Dr. Zaiden is Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, University of Florida College of Medicine, Jacksonville, FL.

Conflicts of interest: The authors have nothing to disclose.

FIGURE 1 A 3.7 cm × 3.5 cm × 2 cm exophytic, violaceous, friable mass on the lateral aspect of the lower extremity.

FIGURE 2 Photomicrograph of a skin biopsy reveals classic histology for clear cell renal cell carcinoma.

FIGURE 3 A CT scan of the chest, abdomen, and pelvis shows a large, heterogeneously enhancing mass in the mid and inferior poles of the right kidney, borderline prominent spleen, and peripherally enhancing lesions in the liver, consistent with metastatic disease.