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Metastases from renal cell carcinoma to the humerus or the shoulder girdle
K D Jacobsen1, G Follerås, S D Fosså
1Department of Medical Oncology and Radiotherapy, Norwegian Radium Hospital, Oslo.
Objective:
To discuss the clinical presentation of metastases in the scapula and/or humerus resulting from renal cell carcinoma and the courses of treatment available.
Patients:
A series of 35 patients with humeral or scapular metastases from renal cell carcinoma, treated at The Norwegian Radium Hospital (NRH) during an 11-year period, is reviewed. Two case reports are examined in detail.
Results:
The median survival was 12 months (range 1-88) from the time of diagnosis of metastasis. Three patients lived for more than 50 months.
Conclusion:
Owing to the relatively long survival time, especially in patients with limited tumour burden elsewhere and who are in a good general state of health, long-lasting palliative treatment of the humeral or scapular metastases is aimed for. Renal cell carcinoma tends to be resistant to radiotherapy, and early treatment, combining orthopaedic surgery and high-dose radiotherapy, is advocated.