A case report of renal cell carcinoma metastasis revealed through late-onset thyroid nodules

Abstract

Background: Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is one of the most common and prevalent cancers all around the world with a prevalence of 3%. Approximately twenty percent of patients present with metastasis at the time of diagnosis, while late metastasis in renal cell carcinoma is a quite familiar phenomenon. Head and neck and particularly thyroid metastasis from RCC are rare events. Case: We present a case of a 75-year-old woman who developed thyroid nodules 13 years after nephrectomy for RCC. Diagnosis confirmed metastatic RCC through clinical history, histomorphology, and immunohistochemistry. Imaging studies revealed thyroid lesions without metastasis in other organs. The patient underwent total thyroidectomy and remains symptom-free after 2 years of follow-up. Conclusion: This case highlights the importance of considering metastatic lesions is crucial in managing thyroid nodules in patients with a history of cancer, particularly RCC.