Severe vaginal bleeding due to vaginal metastasis from renal cell carcinoma with inferior vena cava tumor thrombus: A case report

Medicine (Baltimore). 2022 Jan 21;101(3):e28586. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000028586.

Abstract

Rationale: Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is the most common type of kidney cancer and is the second most common urologic neoplasm. Vaginal metastasis from RCC is extremely rare clinically.

Patient concerns: A 56-year-old woman presented with intermittent vaginal bleeding that had persisted for 1 month. Enhanced computed tomography examination suggested a vaginal mass (3 × 2 × 2 cm), right kidney tumor (15 × 12 × 10 cm), and an inferior vena cava tumor thrombus. During gynecologic examination, the mass was necrotic and caused uncontrollable vaginal bleeding.

Diagnoses: Based on clinical and imaging examinations and the pathology, she was diagnosed as vaginal metastasis from RCC.

Interventions: The patient received percutaneous transcatheter arterial embolization to stop uncontrollable vaginal bleeding, and then treated with targeted therapy.

Outcomes: Vaginal bleeding disappeared after interventional embotherapy. However, disease progressed, and the patient died 9 months later.

Lessons: In cases of vaginal bleeding, the possibility of metastatic renal cell carcinoma should be considered. Percutaneous transcatheter arterial embolization is an effective and novel treatment for uncontrollable vaginal bleeding caused by vaginal metastasis of RCC.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Carcinoma, Renal Cell / complications*
  • Carcinoma, Renal Cell / diagnosis
  • Carcinoma, Renal Cell / therapy*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Kidney Neoplasms / complications*
  • Kidney Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Kidney Neoplasms / therapy
  • Middle Aged
  • Nephrectomy
  • Renal Veins / diagnostic imaging
  • Renal Veins / pathology
  • Thrombosis
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • Uterine Artery Embolization*
  • Uterine Hemorrhage / etiology
  • Uterine Hemorrhage / therapy*
  • Vaginal Neoplasms / pathology
  • Vaginal Neoplasms / secondary*
  • Vena Cava Filters
  • Vena Cava, Inferior / diagnostic imaging
  • Venous Thrombosis / complications*
  • Venous Thrombosis / therapy