Hepatic Metastasis 12 Years after Nephrectomy for Renal Cell Carcinoma

We report a case in which hepatectomy was performed to treat a patient with metastatic liver cancer 12 years after nephrectomy for renal cell carcinoma. The patient was a 56–year old man. Abdominal CT and MRI showed tumors with diameters of 8.5 cm and 2.5 cm in S2 and S4, respectively, of the liver, and many nodules with a diameter of 1 cm or less, all in the left hepatic lobe. FDG–PET/CT revealed a SUVmax of the tumors of 35, suggesting very high accumulation of FDG. Based on the history of renal cell carcinoma and normal hepatitis virus marker values a diagnosis of metastatic liver cancer from renal cell carcinoma was made. Distant metastasis was found only in the liver. Extended left hepatectomy was carried out, and the histologic findings confirmed metastasis by renal cell carcinoma. The patient had a good surgical postoperative course and was discharged on postoperative day 7. No signs of recurrence were observed at the 20 month follow–up examination. Hepatic metastasis by renal cell carcinoma generally has a poor prognosis, and since no specific, effective pharmacotherapy has been established, hepatectomy is an option, if the safety of surgery can be assured.