Case Report
Copyright ©2011 Baishideng Publishing Group Co., Limited. All rights reserved.
World J Gastrointest Oncol. Jun 15, 2011; 3(6): 99-102
Published online Jun 15, 2011. doi: 10.4251/wjgo.v3.i6.99
Recurrent renal cell cancer presenting as gastrointestinal bleed
Sujith V Cherian, Subhraleena Das, Amarinder Singh Garcha, Srivalli Gopaluni, Jonathan Wright, Stephen K Landas
Sujith V Cherian, Subhraleena Das, Amarinder Singh Garcha, Department of Medicine, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY 13210, United States
Srivalli Gopaluni, Jonathan Wright, Department of Hematology-Oncology, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY13210, United States
Stephen K Landas, Department of Pathology, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY13210, United States
Author contributions: All authors contributed to this paper.
Correspondence to: Dr. Sujith V Cherian, Department of Medicine, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, 50 Presidential Plaza, Apt#2106, Jefferson towers, Syracuse, NY 13202, United States. sujithvcherian@gmail.com
Telephone: +1-818-8545737 Fax: +1-315-4645797
Received: January 31, 2011
Revised: April 2, 2011
Accepted: April 9, 2011
Published online: June 15, 2011
Abstract

We present an unusual case of renal cell cancer (RCC) which relapsed with duodenal metastasis and unveiled itself by gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding. An 80-year old Caucasian gentleman with history of renal cell cancer status post nephrectomy 11 mo previously, presented with syncope and melena. Computed tomography scan of the abdomen revealed heterogeneous soft tissue mass in the right nephrectomy bed invading the duodenum. Upper GI endoscopic biopsy confirmed the presence of recurrent renal cell cancer. However, due to extensive metastatic disease, the patient was placed on palliative chemotherapy as surgical options were ruled out. Our case report reiterates the fact that renal cell carcinoma can recur with gastrointestinal manifestations and, although a rarity, it should be considered in a patient with a history of malignancy who presents with these symptoms.

Keywords: Duodenal metastasis, Renal cell cancer, Upper gastrointestinal bleed