[Primary intestinal-type adenocarcinoma of the renal pelvis associated with lithiasis: a case report]

A case of primary adenocarcinoma of the renal pelvis occurring in a 57-year-old woman who had no previous history is reported. The lesions were thought to be a renal destruction by pyelolithiasis upon symptomatology and imaging study data. A nephrectomy was thus performed. Macroscopic examination revealed voluminous and exophytic lesions surrounding lithiasis. Diagnosis of intestinal-type adenocarcinoma of the renal pelvis was established on histological examination. No evidence of other tumor localization was revealed by complete exploration. Primary adenocarcinoma of renal pelvis is a rare and often mucinous intestinal-type tumour. Chronic inflammation and renal lithiasis seem to be associated with this tumour. Few cases are reported and prognosis is doubtful. The main differential diagnosis to eliminate is secondary lesions to the kidney of adenocarcinoma from another origin. A careful pathological examination in case of pyelonephritic kidney is necessary to look for an associated tumour.