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.