Microcytic normochromic anemia associated with iron storage by hypernephroma

A renal-cell carcinoma was discovered and resected in a 38-year-old female patient who had microcytic normochromic anemia. During treatment with ferrous gluconate, the anemia regressed temporarily but reappeared with the onset of metastases to the abdominal lymph nodes. Heavy deposits of hemosiderin were observed in tumor cells in the resected kidney and lymph nodal metastases. It is postulated that the anemia resulted from metabolic diversion and storage of iron by the tumor cells.