[Bilateral multilocular cystic renal cell carcinoma]

Area of Science:

• Urology
• Oncology
• Pathology

Background:

• Bilateral renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is uncommon, and its presentation with multilocular cystic features is exceptionally rare.
• Multilocular cystic renal tumors require careful classification based on their developmental patterns and histological characteristics.

Observation:

• A 42-year-old female presented with an incidentally discovered right renal cystic mass.
• Initial imaging (CT-scan, angiography) led to a diagnosis of right renal cancer, necessitating a right nephrectomy.
• Histological examination confirmed the tumor as multilocular cystic renal cell carcinoma.

Findings:

• One year post-surgery, a cystic lesion was detected in the contralateral left kidney.
• Left partial nephrectomy was performed, with histological diagnosis also revealing multilocular cystic renal cell carcinoma.
• This represents the first reported case of bilateral multilocular cystic renal cell carcinoma in Japan.

Implications:

• This case underscores the importance of thorough evaluation for bilateral disease in patients diagnosed with cystic renal tumors.
• Accurate histological classification is crucial for understanding the behavior and prognosis of multilocular cystic renal cell carcinoma.
• Further research may be warranted to elucidate the specific etiology and management strategies for this rare variant of kidney cancer.