Renal carcinoid tumor with liver metastasis followed up postoperatively for 9 years

BACKGROUND: We describe a case of renal carcinoid tumor with liver metastasis followed up postoperatively for 9 years. CASE PRESENTATION: A 33-year-old man presented with left flank dull ache. On the abdominal computed tomography, a solid renal mass in the upper portion of the left kidney was detected. The patient had no other abnormal findings, such as suspected distant metastasis or lymph node metastasis. Radical nephrectomy was performed on 14/9/2005. Histological examination and immunohistochemical staining confirm primary renal carcinoid tumor. 9 years after radical nephrectomy, computed tomography of the abdomen demonstrated a 2 cm × 1.8 cm cyst mass in the right liver. Similar pathologic characteristics were found between the renal carcinoid tumor and liver tumor. CONCLUSIONS: We present a primary renal carcinoid tumor with liver metastasis 9 years after radical nephrectomy. With literature review, renal carcinoid tumors exhibit heterogenous behavior.