Rare case of clear cell renal cell carcinoma presenting as a unilateral tonsil lesion. Issue 12 (10th December 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ellis, Shawn David; Meikle, Alison; Al-Salti, Wassim; Sinclair, Georges
• Is Part Of: BMJ case reports. Volume 13:Issue 12(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-12-10
• Subjects: urological cancer -- tyrosine kinase inhibitor -- cancer intervention -- malignant disease and immunosuppression; Medicine -- Case studies -- Periodicals; 610.5
• DOI: 10.1136/bcr-2020-237941
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1757-790X

Abstract

Abstract : A 70-year-old man presented with gradually worsening throat discomfort. He had no prior diagnosis of cancer and no travel history of note. Examination revealed a right-sided painless neck lump. He underwent an MRI of the neck, revealing a gadolinium-enhancing tonsillar mass and two brain lesions. Biopsy of the tonsil lesion was in keeping with an epithelial neoplasm, suggesting metastatic renal cell carcinoma. This was confirmed following a staging CT, which revealed a left renal mass and lung metastases. Due to his brain metastases, the patient has been started on the tyrosine kinase inhibitor cabozantinib. A brief discussion on the diagnostic evaluation of a tonsil mass as a rare presentation of renal cell cancer follows this report.