A Rare Case of Metastatic Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma to the Petroclival Region Presenting as Posterior Cranial Neuropathies.

ABSTRACT

We present a case of metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC) to the petroclival region with clinical symptoms manifested as posterior cranial neuropathies. A 65-year-old male presented with headache symptom for over 1 year, during which time he was diagnosed with RCC and underwent right nephrectomy. However, the headache symptom and cranial neuropathies had been attributed to cranial neuritis all the time until the surgical removal of metastatic tumor in the petroclival region led to the diagnosis of metastatic RCC. RCC has a tendency for metastasis early. The incidence of spread of RCC to brain is a rarity in clinical practice. When a patient presents with cranial nerve neuropathies, the possibility of metastatic RCC should be sought. Brain metastases display nonspecific presentations, and it is useful to examine with magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography scans radiologically.