[The synchronous occurrence of acute myeloid leukemia and kidney carcinoma]

During the past year a 52-year-old man had developed quarterly bouts of fever, up to 38.5 degrees C, associated with fatigue and arthralgia. The fourth bout continued as undulating periods of fever with markedly impaired general state. Physical examination was unremarkable except for mild generalised lymphadenopathy.

Extensive imaging and serological studies failed to find an infectious or autoimmunological cause. But computed tomography and angiography revealed a space-occupying lesion in the left kidney, yet the suspected diagnosis of renal carcinoma insufficiently explained the clinical picture. DIAGNOSIS TREATMENT AND COURSE: Haematological tests having shown anaemia (Hb 8.1 g/dl) and blast cells (10%) in the peripheral blood a bone marrow biopsy was performed which indicated acute myeloid leukaemia. Three courses of intensive chemotherapy brought about only partial remission and the patient died 6 months later from a cerebral haemorrhage. An autopsy confirmed both the acute myeloid leukaemia and a renal carcinoma.

The possibility of synchronous occurrence of two malignancies should always be kept in mind especially if the initially diagnosed tumor cannot explain the clinical symptoms.