Erythrocytosis and Wilms' tumour

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Nephrology
• Hematology

Background:

• Wilms' tumour is a rare kidney cancer primarily affecting children.
• Erythrocytosis, or elevated red blood cell count, can have various underlying causes.

Observation:

• An 18-year-old male presented with diagnosed Wilms' tumour and concurrent erythrocytosis.
• Tumour excision, followed by irradiation and chemotherapy, led to the resolution of erythrocytosis.

Findings:

• Post-treatment, the patient experienced no recurrence of erythrocytosis over a 2-year follow-up.
• Elevated erythropoiesis-stimulating activity in serum and renal mass indicated the tumour as the source.

Implications:

• This case highlights a rare paraneoplastic syndrome associated with Wilms' tumour.
• It underscores the importance of investigating erythrocytosis in patients with renal masses.