Renal cell carcinoma in a lumbar ectopic kidney.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Lumbar ectopic kidney is a rare developmental renal anomaly. We report a case of renal cell carcinoma in lumbar ectopic kidney with an abnormality of the main renal artery piercing the renal parenchyma. CASE PRESENTATION A 70-year-old female was referred to our division with an incidentally diagnosed ectopic kidney. Computed tomography angiography detected the right kidney at the lumbar (L3-L4) level with an early-enhanced 44-mm-diameter mass. The kidney had a laterally facing renal hilum and renal arteries piercing the renal parenchyma from the medial side. An open radical nephrectomy was performed using a peritoneal approach, and no perioperative complications were observed. The pathological diagnosis was clear cell carcinoma (pT1). CONCLUSION: This is the first case report of renal cell carcinoma in a lumbar ectopic kidney. It highlights the importance of preoperational imaging for aberrant artery and careful surgical management.