The Pan African Medical Journal (Feb 2013)

Gynecologic bleeding revealing vaginal metastasis of renal cell carcinoma

  • Zineb Benbrahim,
  • Ali Chouaib,
  • Renaud Mazeron,
  • Marie Bènèdicte Leger-Ravet,
  • Catherine Lefort,
  • Catherine Lhommè,
  • Omar El Mesbahi,
  • Bernard Escudier

DOI
https://doi.org/10.11604/pamj.2013.14.62.838
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 14, no. 62

Abstract

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Vaginal metastases of renal cell carcinoma have been rarely described. We report a case of a 75-year old woman, who underwent radical right nephrectomy for a renal cell carcinoma. Tumour was classified pT3bN0M0 and grade III of Furhmann grading. One year later, scanner discovered mediastinal and lombo-aortic lymph nodes. She received 2 months of immunotherapy associated with bevacizumab, but stopped because of intolerance. She was readmitted in our institute for vaginal bleeding. Clinical investigations showed a vaginal mass and biopsy revealed a renal cell carcinoma metastasis. This case suggests that retrograde venous dissemination may be at the origin of vaginal metastasis of renal cell carcinoma and emphasized the preventive value of early ligature of renal vein.

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