Co-existing Sarcoidosis Confounds the Staging of Bilateral Renal Cell Carcinoma

Authors

  • Heather Willis
  • Marta Heilbrun
  • Christopher Dechet

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3941/jrcr.v5i1.553

Keywords:

renal cell carcinoma, bilateral, sarcoidosis, positron emission tomography, metastatic, computed tomography

Abstract

We present a case in which the undiagnosed condition of sarcoidosis complicated the staging of bilateral, subtype-discordant renal cell carcinoma. Initially thought to have metastatic renal cell carcinoma based on computed tomography imaging and referred for immunotherapy, a positron emission tomography/computed tomography scan demonstrated different levels of radiotracer activity in the primary site and the presumed pulmonary metastatic sites.  The patient underwent bilateral partial nephrectomies and was ultimately diagnosed with stage T1 bilateral renal cell carcinoma and sarcoidosis.  This case highlights the need to consider concurrent medical conditions that can lead to false positive results when evaluating for metastatic disease with imaging studies as well as the importance of evaluating the levels of radiotracer activity between different sites.

Author Biographies

Heather Willis

Department of Surgery, Division of Urology, Resident Physician

Marta Heilbrun

Department of Clinical Radiology, Assistant Professor

Christopher Dechet

Department of Surgery, Division of Urology, Assistant Professor

Published

2011-01-22

Issue

Section

Genitourinary Radiology