Clival metastasis of renal clear cell carcinoma: Case report and literature review

Abstract

The clivus is an atypical metastatic site for renal clear cell carcinoma (RCCC). Here we report a 54 year old man with acute cavernous sinus syndrome. Brain magnetic resonance imaging identified a clival-based lesion with associated bony erosion. The patient underwent endoscopic endonasal biopsy and partial resection of the clival mass. Because histologic examination of the resected specimen resulted in a diagnosis of RCCC, contrast-enhanced computed tomography scan of the abdomen was performed and showed an enhanced left renal mass. The patient subsequently underwent laparoscopic left radical nephrectomy and gamma knife was planned for the residual clival lesion. We also retrospectively reviewed available published reports on clival metastases, specifically those from RCCC, since 1990.