Metastatic hypernephroma to the head and neck: Unusual case reports and review of the literature

Hypernephroma is one of the most common tumours to spread by extranodal met astases to the head and neck. We herein report on six patients with unusual metastatic hypernephroma to the head and neck area. In two of the six case s, the metastatic tumour in the head and neck was the presenting symptom, a nd the renal tumour was secondarily detected. Metastatic hypernephroma to t he head and neck area has been demonstrated mostly in the paranasal sinuses , parotid gland, and the mandible. Among the six cases presented, four belo ng to the above-mentioned group, but the other two are rather rare cases, o ne metastatic to the nasopharynx and soft palate and the other to both lobe s of the thyroid gland. Hypernephroma should be sought and excluded wheneve r a metastatic lesion is encountered in the head and neck area, even if the metastatic lesion is the first clinical presentation. The diagnosis of met astatic hypernephroma should be suspected in any patient with even a remote history of renal cell carcinoma.