Gastric metastasis presenting as submucosa tumors from renal cell carcinoma: A case report

BACKGROUND: Gastric metastasis from renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is an extremely rare clinical entity. Due to an easily neglected RCC history, nonspecific symptoms and under-recognized endoscopic presentation may lead to a potential diagnostic pitfall in daily clinical practice. CASE SUMMARY: We present a case of metastatic gastric tumors arising from RCC 5 years after radical nephrectomy. Simultaneous, multifocal metastases to the gallbladder, pancreas and soft tissue were observed. One year previously, a solitary submucosal discoid tumor with a central depression was detected in the gastric fundus in a 65-year-old man. Endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) showed a 1.12 x 0.38 cm lesion originating from the deeper mucosal layers with partially discontinuous submucosa. One year later, the endoscopic findings of the lesion showed various changes. A large lesion of the protruding type (2.5 cm × 2 cm) was found in the fundus at the same location. EUS showed a heterogeneous mass that involved the mucosa and submucosal layer. In addition, two small similar submucosal lesions 0.4-0.6 cm in size were detected. These lesions had a central depression, surface mucosal congestion and thickened vessels. The two adjacent lesions in the fundus were resected by endoscopic submucosal dissection. Based on the postoperative pathological analysis, the patient was diagnosed with gastric metastasis from RCC. CONCLUSION: Gastric metastasis from RCC should be considered in patients with a history of RCC irrespective of the time interval involved.