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The Oncologist, Vol. 13, No. 2, 95-97, February 2008; doi:10.1634/theoncologist.2006-0214
© 2008 AlphaMed Press

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Cancer Imaging

A Case of Small Bowel Obstruction Due to Intraluminal Metastases from Metastatic Renal Cell Cancer

Srikala S. Sridhar, Masoom A. Haider, Maha Guindi, Malcolm J. Moore

Princess Margaret Hospital and University of Toronto, Department of Medical Oncology and Hematology, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Key Words. Renal cell cancer • Metastases • Small bowel obstruction

Correspondence: Srikala Sridhar, M.D., M.Sc., F.R.C.P.C., Department of Medicine, Suite 5–222, Princess Margaret Hospital, 610 University Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, M5G 2M9, Canada. Telephone: 416-946-2249; Fax: 416-946-6546; e-mail: srikala.sridhar{at}uhn.on.ca

Received December 21, 2006; accepted for publication April 2, 2007.

Disclosure: No potential conflicts of interest were reported by the authors, planners, reviewers, or staff managers of this article.


   ABSTRACT
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 Abstract
Case
 Discussion
 References
 
A 71-year-old man, with a history of metastatic renal cell cancer (RCC), presented with symptoms of a small bowel obstruction with nausea, vomiting, cramps, and diarrhea. He underwent surgery and was found to have intraluminal metastases from his metastatic RCC. Intraluminal metastases are rare and usually present with obstruction, bleeding, or perforation. The mainstay of treatment remains complete surgical excision, even in the face of widely metastatic disease. Surgery not only palliates symptoms, but may also extend survival because metastatic RCC can be a very indolent and unpredictable disease. Furthermore, these patients can now be treated with a new class of antiangiogenic agents that are showing impressive response rates, which may also translate into improved overall survival.


   CASE
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 Footnotes
 Abstract
 Case
Discussion
 References
 
A 71-year-old man presented to the emergency room (ER) with nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, weight loss, and diarrhea. Seven years earlier he was diagnosed with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and had a right nephrectomy. The tumor invaded the renal vein, inferior vena cava, hilar lymph nodes, right adrenal gland, and the renal vein resection margin was positive. One year later, the tumor recurred in the renal vein stump and he underwent a caval resection. He remained well for 3 years, at which point routine surveillance showed asymptomatic lung and liver metastases, and 1 year later small bowel metastases. Because he was clinically well he received no systemic treatment and was stable for 3 years until his presentation to the ER.

Clinical examination revealed tenderness on deep palpation in the epigastric region. Laboratory findings were normal except for a mild normocytic anemia, and hyponatremia. Abdominal computed tomography scan (Fig. 1) demonstrated marked dilatation of the small intestine (4 cm diameter) and the presence of a 3.9 cm x 3.4 cm, hypervascular mass 30 cm proximal to the terminal ileum. The mass had intraluminal, mural, and extraluminal components with large draining veins. Distal to the mass, the small intestine was collapsed. Progression of liver metastases was also noted.


Figure 1
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  		Figure 1. Radiology. Axial computed tomography (A) and right anterior oblique coronal reconstruction (B) show a lobulated polypoid hypervascular mural metastasis extending into the small bowel lumen (white arrows).

 
The patient underwent a laparoscopic-assisted small bowel resection, which revealed a metastatic nodule involving the mucosa, small bowel wall, and subserosal fat (Fig. 2). The tumor was composed of polygonal cells consistent with clear cell RCC (Fig. 3). The resection margins were negative, as were six resected lymph nodes.


Figure 2
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  		Figure 2. Histology. Low-power view of the small bowel wall showing metastatic renal cell cancer (asterisk) and adjacent small bowel mucosa (arrow), using hematoxylin and eosin staining.

 


Figure 3
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  		Figure 3. Histology. (A): Tumor composed of polygonal cells with clear cytoplasm and a sharply outlined cell membrane consistent with renal cell cancer (hematoxylin and eosin staining). (B): Tumor cells positive for renal cell carcinoma antigen by immunoperoxidase technique.

 
The postoperative course was uneventful. The patient remained well and relatively asymptomatic for another 19 months. Then, as a result of worsening liver metastases, he was offered a trial comparing interferon with an antiangiogenic agent. He was randomized to receive interferon, but unfortunately died 2 months later of a cardiac arrest.


   DISCUSSION
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 Footnotes
 Abstract
 Case
 Discussion
References
 
Intraluminal small bowel metastases from metastatic RCC are not commonly seen, but based on autopsied cases may have an incidence of 0.7%–14.6% [1–18]. The interval from initial nephrectomy to presentation of intestinal metastases ranged from 3 months to 20 years, and appeared to correlate with overall disease-specific survival [1–15, 19]. Intestinal metastases occur equally in the jejunum and the ileum and usually present with intestinal bleeding because of tumoral invasion of intestinal vessels [12] and/or intestinal obstruction. Intussusceptions of the metastatic lesion causing obstruction have also been reported [1, 2, 4, 5, 20]. The majority of patients with intestinal RCC metastases also had pulmonary metastases, suggesting that the lung, via the pulmonary circulation, may be a key disseminating site for RCC metastases [1–15, 21]. All patients presenting with intestinal metastases underwent surgery that resulted in complete resolution of abdominal symptoms.

This case report and review of the literature suggests that an aggressive surgical approach is favored for small bowel metastases from metastatic RCC. Surgery not only palliates symptoms but may also lead to improved overall survival. In fact, several studies suggest that, in general, consideration should be given to surgical resection of solitary or single organ site distant metastases from RCC because metastatic RCC is such an indolent, unpredictable disease [19]. Furthermore, several novel agents targeting angiogenesis and showing impressive response rates are now available, which may further translate into overall survival benefits. Patients are thus likely going to be living longer with this disease, and so early recognition and appropriate management of potentially resectable metastatic lesions becomes particularly important.


   FOOTNOTES
 
Conception/design: Srikala S. Sridhar, Malcolm J. Moore

Financial support: Srikala S. Sridhar

Administrative support: Srikala S. Sridhar

Provision of study materials or patients: Masoom A. Haider, Maha Guindi, Malcolm J. Moore

Collection/assembly of data: Srikala S. Sridhar

Data analysis and interpretation: Srikala S. Sridhar, Masoom A. Haider, Maha Guindi

Manuscript writing: Srikala S. Sridhar, Maha Guindi, Malcolm J. Moore

Final approval of manuscript: Srikala S. Sridhar, Malcolm J. Moore


   REFERENCES
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 Footnotes
 Abstract
 Case
 Discussion
 References
 

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