Metastatic tumors to the nose and paranasal sinuses are relatively rare. We report a case of renal cell carcinoma metastatic to the maxillary sinus. The patient was a 55-year-old male with left nasal bleeding. Several ultrasonic and radiographic examinations revealed right renal cell carcinoma. Total nephrectomy was performed, followed by total maxillectomy.
An analysis of 394 previously published cases showed that about 30% of metastases to the head and neck were from renal cell carcinomas, and the most common sites of matastases were the nose and paranasal sinuses. When we see frequent nasal bleeding and rare pathological findings, the possibility of metastatic tumor should be considered.
The metastatic pathways to the head and neck are discussed briefly.
