Brain metastasis of a papillary renal cell carcinoma, identified as type 2

Papillary renal cell carcinomas (PRCCs) tend to metastasize to lymph nodes, while metastasis to the brain is extremely rare. We report the case of a man who had a brain metastasis of PRCC type 2. He was brought to our hospital due to the sudden onset of convulsions. Diagnostic imaging studies showed a metastatic brain tumor in the left parietal lobe, and a primary renal tumor in the right kidney, with paraaortal lymph node metastases. An excision of brain tumor was performed. The brain tumor had a papillary structure with eosinophilic cytoplasm. Five weeks later nephrectomy was carried out. Histological analysis of the nephrectomy specimen revealed the same papillary structure, which was compatible with PRCC type 2.