A 72-year-old female with left renal cell carcinoma and lymphadenopathy had undergone hand-assisted laparoscopic left nephrectomy and dissection of the lymph node (papillary renal cell carcinoma, type 2, pT3a pN2 M1). She had been treated with adjuvant chemotherapy with sunitinib, temsirolimus and pazopanib. However, the patient was started on nivolumab due to disease progression. After receiving 5 cycles of nivolumab, she was admitted to our emergency room for chest discomfort and appetite loss. Since computed tomographic (CT) scan showed pericardial effusion, we performed pericardiocentesis. Cytological examination of the pericardial effusion demonstrated leukocytes and no malignant cells. CT scan two weeks after cardiocentesis showed no recurrent pericardial effusion. She became stable with nivolumab, but the administration of nivolumab was discontinued and she started receiving axitinib.