A rare case of bilateral renal metastases arising from minor salivary gland adenoid cystic carcinoma

A 67-year-old female patient was diagnosed with bilateral renal metastases from adenoid cystic carcinoma (AdCC) of salivary gland origin five years after the primary diagnosis of minor salivary gland AdCC. Bilateral renal core needle biopsies were performed to distinguish primary renal cell carcinoma (RCC) from metastases and to guide treatment strategy. Few similar cases have been reported; none had bilateral metastases at the time of discovery or biopsy-verified AdCC metastases prior to the treatment decision. RCC was a tentative diagnosis and renal metastases of AdCC have previously been mistaken for RCC. •Renal metastases from salivary gland adenoid cystic carcinoma are rare.•Be aware of previous malignancies when a renal mass is found.•Metastatic adenoid cystic carcinoma can be mistaken for renal cell carcinoma.•Consider performing biopsies to select the most suitable treatment strategy.