Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 3, 2026
Using the Chicken Chorioallantoic Membrane In Vivo Model to Study Gynecological and Urological Cancers
Published on: January 28, 2020
Fatal fast-growing renal cell carcinoma during pregnancy
Mathieu Bettez1, Michel Carmel, Rabbia Temmar
1Urology Division, Department of Surgery, University of Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC.
Background:
Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) during pregnancy is rare. Volume doubling time for RCC is estimated to be 72 weeks.
Case:
A 28-year-old woman was assessed for macroscopic hematuria at 21 weeks' gestation. A renal ultrasound revealed a 3.4 cm right renal mass. After MRI, the most likely diagnosis seemed to be angiomyolipoma. The patient opted for conservative management, and the pregnancy continued to almost 36 weeks, at which time the mass had tripled in size. Laparoscopic nephrectomy was performed four days after delivery, and pathological examination revealed a 9.3 cm renal cell carcinoma. Three months later, multiple metastases were identified, which were resistant to targeted therapies. The patient died 12 months postpartum.
Conclusion:
Although renal tumours during pregnancy have been reported, this is the first report of a fatal fast-growing renal tumour.
Related Concept Videos
01:20The Retinoblastoma Gene
The first-ever tumor suppressor gene called Rb was identified in retinoblastoma - a rare eye tumor in children. In inherited forms of the disease, a child inherits one defective copy of the Rb gene, which predisposes them to retinoblastoma. However,...
01:26Kidney Transplant II: Surgical Procedure
01:07Teratogenicity
02:23Abnormal Proliferation