Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma Metastasized to the Ampulla of Vater 16 Years after Nephrectomy—A Rare Case

Abstract

Although clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is easy to diagnose early and most can be radically resected, nearly one-third of patients still experience metastases after radical nephrectomy. The most common distant metastases sites of ccRCC are lung, bone and liver. However, periampullary metastasis of ccRCC is very rare and easy to misdiagnose. A 59-year-old male patient was hospitalized for recurrent hematochezia. He had a history of nephrectomy 16 years ago due to ccRCC. Enhanced upper abdominal computed tomography (CT) suggested a mass in the ampulla of vater, and active hemorrhage of duodenal papilla was observed by endoscopy. He underwent an emergency pancreaticoduodenectomy because endoscopic hemostasis and transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) both failed. Intraoperatively, we found that the tumor located in the ampulla and invaded the pancreatic tissue. The operation was successful, with no postoperative complications. Postoperative pathology suggested metastatic ccRCC.

Keywords

• renal cell carcinoma
• periampullary metastasis
• pancreaticoduodenectomy
• interesting images