Solitary renal cell carcinoma metastasis to the hand: The need for wide excision or amputation

Metastatic renal cell carcinoma responds poorly to chemotherapy or radiation therapy and is associated with a dismal survival rate. In cases of a solitary acrometastasis, the literature supports complete resection of the lesion in an effort to prolong survival. We report a patient who presented with a solitary metachronous renal cell metastasis to the middle phalanx of the index finger. The lesion was correctly identified as a renal cell metastasis and aggressive surgical management was performed with curative intent.(J Hand Surg 2001;26A-156-160. Copyright © 2001 by the American Society for Surgery of the Hand.)