Carcinoids of the kidney: case report and literature review

Primary carcinoids of the kidney are very rare, only 10 cases having been reported in the literature. The authors report a case of primary renal carcinoid in a 50-year-old woman. A radical nephrectomy with lymphadenectomy was successfully performed and there was no residual or recurrent tumour at 2-year follow-up. A review of the reported cases revealed a variable, nonspecific presentation. Most laboratory tests were non-contributory except for urinalysis. When a renal carcinoid is diagnosed, a search should be made for a possible primary elsewhere. Primary renal carcinoid does exhibit malignant behaviour. It should be managed by radical nephrectomy with retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy.