Skeletal metastases are common and MRI is frequently performed to assess for cord compression.

Renal cell carcinoma is one of the typical primaries, along with lung, breast and prostate, to metastasize to the spine.

HISTOLOGY: Excision biopsy from thoracic spine: Metastatic renal cell carcinoma.

The axial upper abdomen views here were performed in this case after identifying the mass on the localizers. The alert radiographer and radiologist should review the localizer images of studies as they may reveal additional information pertinent to the diagnostic process.