Right ventricular metastasis from unclassified Renal Cell Carcinoma

Cardiac metastasis of unclassified renal cell carcinoma (RCC) subtype is very rare, and even more so is an isolated right ventricular (RV) metastasis without vena cava extension or right atrial involvement. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of a cardiac metastasis of an unclassified RCC (an aggressive RCC) without vena cava extension.

A 61-year-old African American male with past medical history of hypertension and schizophrenia presented to the emergency room following 2 episodes of syncope and 3-month history of progressive neck mass. CT scan of neck, abdomen and pelvis showed bulky left cervical, supraclavicular and axillary lymph node, mass in anterior aspect of heart, and multiple solid left renal masses and probable right renal mass. Echocardiogram revealed a large RV mass with deformation of the RV free wall suggesting malignant growth. Core biopsy of the right superficial gluteal mass revealed a metastatic poorly differentiated carcinoma of likely renal origin, with a possibility of an unclassified RCC. Due to the extent and burden of metastasis, patient and family members agreed to conservative management and evaluation for hospice care.

Cardiac metastasis of unclassified RCC is rare, and even more so is an isolated RV metastasis without vena cava extension or right atrial involvement, and the present case, to the best of knowledge is the first of such rare presentation.