[Small cell carcinoma of the kidney: a case report]

A 79-year-old man presented in August 2002 with right flank pain, anorexia, and gross hematuria. Physical examination was significant for a palpable, nontender, firm, and fixed mass in the epigastric region. Computed tomography scan of abdomen revealed a 15 cm tumor occupying almost the whole right kidney with extension into the inferior vena cava. The para-aortic and retroperitoneal lymph nodes were significantly enlarged. Examinations including bone scintigram and chest X-ray revealed no metastases. The patient underwent a ultrasound sonography-guided biopsy of the renal tumor, which showed a small cell carcinoma pathologically, and immunohistochemically. The patient received palliative treatment, and died in February 2003. We reviewed 25 cases including our case, and analyzed the clinical outcome of small cell carcinoma of the kidney.