Diagnosis and management of duodenal obstruction due to renal cell carcinoma

Two cases of duodenal obstruction secondary to renal cell carcinoma are described. One case had delayed metastasis to duodenum four years after right radical nephrectomy and the second case had a large right renal cell carcinoma with duodenal involvement. The possibility of duodenal involvement or metastasis should be kept in mind in any patient presenting with upper gastrointestinal obstructive symptoms and with right sided renal tumour or radical nephrectomy in the past. Whenever suspected, radiography and if required endoscopic assessment should be supplemented to diagnose this condition. Extensive local disease or presence of concurrent metastasis usually rules out the possibility of cure. We describe the clinico-radiological features of this condition along with a review of the literature.