Renal cell carcinoma preceded by a rheumatoid‑like paraneoplastic syndrome: A case report

A man with polycystic kidney disease and a history of renal transplantation at the age of 55 years developed seronegative rheumatoid arthritis (RA) at the age of 68 years. Treatment with a biological derivative led to remission; however, the patient relapsed 2 years later. After being switched to baricitinib, the patient again achieved remission. After 2 years, when the patient was aged 72 years, RA recurred, and the right native kidney became enlarged due to the presence of a large tumor. Surgical nephrectomy was performed, and the tumor was classified as renal cell carcinoma (RCC), not otherwise specified. The cancer tissue comprised sarcomatoid and rhabdoid cells with marked neutrophil infiltration, and the tumor cells were positive for interleukin-6. The patient, aged 73 years, experienced a resolution of joint pain following surgical intervention; however, they died because of systemic metastases ~10 weeks post-operation. Based on the clinical course, the RA-like lesions and subsequent RCC were considered to represent a paraneoplastic syndrome.