Renal cell carcinoma with secondary hemophagocytic syndrome: A case report

Can Urol Assoc J. 2012 Apr;6(2):E64-6. doi: 10.5489/cuaj.10188.

Abstract

A patient with a suspected malignancy and pancytopenia warrants much consideration. Most clinicians would consider bone marrow infiltrative process, heralding a grave prognosis. However, rare occurrence of hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis is another diagnostic possibility we should keep in mind. The treatment choices and overall prognosis may differ from patients without hemophagocytosis. We present a case of incidentally found advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC) concurrent with hemophagocytosis process in the bone marrow. We also discuss the importance of this finding.