Renal cell carcinoma with involvement of iris and conjunctiva.

PURPOSE: To report a case of metastatic renal cell carcinoma with involvement of the iris and bulbar conjunctiva.

METHODS

Case report. A 70-year-old man without known systemic disease developed an iris mass in his left eye. Iridocyclectomy was performed to remove the iris mass.

RESULTS

Histopathologically, the iris mass was consistent with metastatic renal cell carcinoma. Further evaluation disclosed a mass of the left kidney. The patient underwent a left nephrectomy and was found to have renal cell carcinoma, with focal penetration into the renal capsule. One month after the nephrectomy, he developed a highly vascular nodule of the left bulbar conjunctiva. An excisional biopsy was performed, and histopathology disclosed an additional focus of renal cell carcinoma.

CONCLUSIONS

Iris and conjunctival involvement may be a clinical manifestation of renal cell carcinoma. Renal cell carcinoma should be considered in the differential diagnosis of a fleshy, vascular iris and a conjunctival nodule.