Unintentional Dual Benefit: Improvement in Secondary Polycythemia in a Patient Receiving Chemotherapy for Metastatic Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma

Abstract

Complete blood counts are frequently collected from cancer patients, but laboratory findings may be misleading. Secondary polycythemia can occur in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) due to erythropoietin (EPO) stimulation. Therefore, complete blood counts should be closely monitored to prevent complications such as thrombosis. We discuss the case of a 47-year-old man with metastatic RCC who presented with secondary polycythemia that improved with chemotherapy. His secondary erythrocytosis was anticipated, but his haemoglobin levels were lower than expected after therapy. This article discusses the treatment and diagnosis of secondary polycythemia in patients with RCC.

Keywords

• metastatic renal cell carcinoma
• everolimus
• paraneoplastic syndrome
• secondary polycythemia
• epo-producing tumour