Giant right hydronephrosis with underlying double malignancy: a case report

Pan Afr Med J. 2023 May 5:45:21. doi: 10.11604/pamj.2023.45.21.37942. eCollection 2023.

Abstract

Giant hydronephrosis is mostly caused by ureteropelvic junction obstruction (UPJO). Giant hydronephrosis with concurrent malignancy is less common clinically and is easily misdiagnosed. We report a 77-year-old male who presented with sudden onset progressive abdominal distension in the last month. Abdominal computed tomography showed a right severe hydronephrotic kidney with loss of parenchymal thinning. Cystoscopy showed a 1x1cm papillary lesion protruding from the right ureteric orifice. He underwent a right radical nephroureterectomy with bladder cuff excision with lymph node dissection. Histopathology showed low-grade urothelial carcinoma of the ureter and incidental pleomorphic rhabdomyosarcoma in the right kidney. The patient refused chemotherapy and died 6 months later due to lung metastasis. Incidental pathologic finding of renal rhabdomyosarcoma in adults with giant hydronephrosis and urothelial carcinoma is a rare occurrence with diverse clinical presentations, prognoses, and outcomes.

Keywords: Bladder tumor; case report; giant hydronephrosis; rhabdomyosarcoma; urothelial carcinoma.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Carcinoma, Transitional Cell* / pathology
  • Humans
  • Hydronephrosis* / diagnosis
  • Hydronephrosis* / etiology
  • Hydronephrosis* / surgery
  • Male
  • Rhabdomyosarcoma* / pathology
  • Ureter* / pathology
  • Urinary Bladder Neoplasms* / complications
  • Urinary Bladder Neoplasms* / diagnosis
  • Urinary Bladder Neoplasms* / surgery