Resection of an esophageal metastasis from a renal cell carcinoma

Surgery for patients with isolated metastases from renal cell carcinoma has been shown to improve survival. Isolated esophageal metastases are very uncommon among patients with renal cell carcinoma and there are no reports addressing the outcome of their resection. A 60-year-old woman who had previous history of renal cell carcinoma was admitted to the hospital with progressive dysphagia. Esophagography and endoscopy showed an esophageal tumor and biopsies were consistent with adenocarcinoma. No other site with tumor was identified on CT-scan. Resected specimen showed metastasis from renal cell carcinoma and the patient survived for an 11-month period. Although resection of metastatic renal cell carcinoma has been shown to improve long-term survival, the presence of esophageal metastases can be considered an adverse prognostic factor.