Related Experiment Videos
Intraluminal renal metastasis from colon cancer simulating a fungus ball
L H Lowe1, R J Zagoria, M Y Chen
1Department of Radiology, Bowman Gray School of Medicine, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC 27157-1088.
Abstract:
Reports of renal metastasis from colon cancer are unusual, and none have described intraluminal renal metastasis. We describe a patient with a radiolucent filling defect in the renal pelvis that was discovered by percutaneous nephrostomy during prophylactic nephrostomy tube change. Imaging and laboratory results indicated a fungus ball, but pathologic diagnosis of the percutaneously extracted mass was metastatic colonic adenocarcinoma.
Insights
Renal metastasis from colon cancer is rare, especially intraluminal. This case highlights a colon cancer metastasis presenting as a renal pelvis mass, initially mistaken for a fungus ball.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Nephrology
- Pathology
Background:
- Renal metastasis from colorectal cancer is uncommon.
- Intraluminal renal metastasis has not been previously reported.
Observation:
- A patient presented with a radiolucent filling defect in the renal pelvis during a nephrostomy tube change.
- Initial imaging and laboratory tests suggested a fungus ball.
Findings:
- Percutaneous extraction of the mass revealed metastatic colonic adenocarcinoma.
- This represents the first reported case of intraluminal renal metastasis from colon cancer.
Implications:
- This case expands the understanding of colorectal cancer metastasis patterns.
- It underscores the importance of histopathological confirmation for renal masses, even when imaging suggests other etiologies.
- Clinicians should consider unusual metastatic presentations in patients with a history of colon cancer.