Esophageal carcinoma presenting as a primary renal tumor

A patient with esophageal carcinoma presenting with hematuria is described. Initial studies confirmed the presence of a renal mass that was thought to be a primary renal neoplasm. Further studies to evaluate anemia before a renal operation led to the discovery of an unsuspected esophageal carcinoma. Although metastases to the kidneys are relatively common it is uncommon for these lesions to be clinically apparent or responsible for producing initial symptomatology. Only after discovery of the esophageal lesion was the possibility of a secondary renal neoplasm considered. Intractable hematuria was treated successfully by embolizing the renal artery of the bleeding kidney with gelatin sponge fragments.