Hypernephroma: Disappearance Of Metastasis After Nephrectomy
Western Journal of Medicine 97(4): Oct 1962; 235-236
View Original Source →Abstract
A patient with renal cell carcinoma and lung metastases discovered preoperatively underwent nephrectomy. The lung metastases disappeared spontaneously 22 months postoperatively and the patient remained free of symptoms to his death which occurred 20 years later at the age of eighty-two. The patient died following a cerebrovascular accident. The literature on the spontaneous disappearance of pulmonary metastases in hypernephroma has been reviewed, and the many possible theories on this interesting subject have been discussed.
Case Details
Personal Characteristics
The patient, a 63-year-old woman
Clinical Characteristics
Gross hematuria associated with right renal colic, weakness, a heavy mobile mass in the right side of the abdomen, pallor, moist rales in both lungs, round, smooth, movable mass 15 centimeters in diameter in the right flank, hematuria, pyuria, moderate secondary anemia, normal blood urea nitrogen, pelvic and calyceal deformity typical of renal neoplasm, multiple large bilateral pulmonary metastatic lesions
Remission Characteristics
Multiple areas of metastasis were still present three months after nephrectomy but ten months later the chest was completely free of metastatic lesions
Treatment & Mechanisms
Proposed Remission Mechanisms
Disappearance of metastatic lesions after removal of the primary tumor
Clinical Treatment
Right nephrectomy
Additional Notes
The patients health has been excellent in the 15 years since the operation. Upon examination of the patient, of a specimen of urine and of the remaining kidney, no evidence of disease was found. She was in good health and felt well.