Metachronous metastasis of renal cell carcinoma to the urinary bladder: a case report

Abstract

We report a case of intravesical metastasis of a clear cell renal cell carcinoma. In renal cell carcinoma 16% of patients present with metastatic disease. Renal cell carcinoma can metastasize to nearly every organ, although metastatic spread to the urinary bladder is rare, with fewer than 70 described cases. The route and pattern of metastatic spread is not yet fully understood and different pathways are suggested. Gross haematuria is the presenting symptom in the majority of cases. These intravesical metastases may be synchronous or metachronous and can be solitary or part of polymetastatic disease. No standard treatment can be suggested due to the rare nature of this phenomenon, and treatment varies from transurethral resection, partial or complete cystectomy to systemic therapy. Prognosis in patients with a solitary bladder lesion that developed metachronously is rather good, whereas poor prognosis can be expected in patients with synchronous and multiple metastases.