Bilateral metachronous ovarian metastases from clear cell renal carcinoma: a case report

INTRODUCTION: Bilateral ovarian metastases from a clear cell renal carcinoma are uncommon findings and need to be differentiated from primary cancers. Diagnostic imaging and histopathological features are often inconclusive, unless they are combined. CASE PRESENTATION: A 56-year-old woman with a history of right radical nephrectomy for a renal clear cell carcinoma diagnosed 10 years earlier was referred for abdominal distension and pelvic pain. Color-Doppler US and Computer Tomography scan revealed the presence of bilateral ovarian masses with regular margins, a low resistance index and poor contrast enhancement. Immunohistochemistry showed positive epithelial membrane antigen, cytokeratin, vimentin and CD10, suggesting clear cells from the previously diagnosed kidney cancer. CONCLUSION: Although bilateral metachronous ovarian metastases from clear cell renal carcinoma are a very uncommon finding, they can be considered in the differential diagnosis and investigated with imaging and immunohistochemistry. The 6 cases reported in the literature indicate a good prognosis for this condition.