Perirenal metastases from lung cancer: CT diagnosis

Three patients with primary lung cancer had perirenal metastases detected with CT. In two cases a symptomatic perirenal mass was the first evidence of metastatic spread and CT-guided biopsy of the perirenal lesion confirmed the diagnosis of metastatic lung cancer. The perirenal space is an unusual but potentially significant site of metastasis from lung cancer as well as other tumors such as malignant melanoma. It is suggested that connections between perirenal and intrathoracic lymphatics are the most probable mechanism of this pattern of spread by lung cancers.