Cervical lymph node metastasis in renal cell carcinoma

Renal cell carcinoma represents 3% of all adult malignant tumors. It occurs more frequently in the fifth and sixth decade of life and in a male–female ratio of 1.5 : 1. Among all the primary tumors that arise below the level of the clavicle, renal cell carcinoma is the third most common neoplasm that metastasizes to the head and neck region, but rarely has it been described as the presenting symptom of this tumor. In 7.5% of the patients with renal cell carcinoma, head and neck metastasis is the presenting complaint. However, only 1% of the patients with renal cell carcinoma have metastases confined only to the head and neck; and a solitary cervical metastatic mass, as in the case of our patient, is rare.It seems that head and neck metastasis of renal cell carcinoma should preferentially be treated with surgical excision because of the associated morbidity and quality-of-life issues. Renal cell carcinoma should be considered in the differential diagnosis of any growing lesion in the head and neck.