Spontaneous Disappearance Of Pulmonary Metastases After Nephrectomy For Hypernephroma; Four-year Follow-up
Journal of Urology 59: 1948; 564-566
View Original Source →Abstract
The remission of metastatic lesions without therapy is such a fortuitous event that each case should be documented for what information it may provide. In a case of a 75-year-old man with adenocarcinoma of the left kidney and local and pulmonary metastasis, pulmonary metastatic lesions spontaneously regressed after nephrectomy and remained absent two years nine months after surgery. Postulations as to the cause of regression are discussed. The case report illustrates the virtue of removal of a parent renal tumor, despite evidence of extensive metastasis.
Case Details
Personal Characteristics
Male, 62 years old, progressive weakness, productive cough with dark sputum, loss of weight, pale, thin, elderly man, marked secondary anemia
Clinical Characteristics
Multiple metastatic nodules, 1 to 4 centimeters in diameter scattered throughout both lungs, mass compressing the calyces of the lower pole of the left kidney, malignant grawitz tumor (hypernephroma) with invasion of the small veins and lymphatics
Remission Characteristics
Complete disappearance of the nodules, lungs free of metastases
Treatment & Mechanisms
Proposed Remission Mechanisms
Not discussed
Clinical Treatment
Left nephrectomy
Additional Notes
The patient had a history of progressive weakness, productive cough with dark sputum, and loss of weight. The patient's condition worsened after the operation, but later improved and gained weight. The patient had a cough with frank hemoptyses during the summer, but gained weight. X-ray of the bony pelvis and long bones taken on December 7, 1946 was negative.