Asymptomatic renal cell carcinoma with metastasis to the skin and duodenum: a case report and review of the literature

Renal cell carcinoma is known to have blood-borne metastasis. This is usually to the bone, lungs and brain. Other unusual metastatic presentations such as skin and bowel metastasis have also been described. In most cases, the metastasis occurs as a late manifestation in a patient with known primary renal cell carcinoma. A rare synchronous presentation of skin and duodenal metastasis in an otherwise asymptomatic patient is reported here. This patient presented with a skin lesion that, on excision, brought up the diagnosis of metastatic renal cell carcinoma. While the patient was waiting for surgery, she also developed melena that, on gastroscopy, confirmed a duodenal metastasis. This case highlights the importance of early recognition of otherwise unrelated lesions as presentations for an advanced renal malignancy.