Medknow Publications on behalf of Indian Cancer Society
Abstract
Formation of bone in cases of renal cell carcinoma is a rare finding
and only a couple of case reports from Japan and one from India are
mentioned in the literature. Calcification inside renal mass has been
reported earlier but the prognostic implications have not been clearly
elucidated. We report a case which showed heterotopic bone formation
(ossification) inside the renal mass and was managed by radical
nephrectomy. The histopathology showed clear cell renal carcinoma with
multiple centers of ossification in the region of calcification
suggesting bone formation. In this case report we discuss bone
morphogenetic proteins which have been implicated as a prognostic and
causative factor, highlight the difficulties in distinguishing between
calcification and bone formation on the basis of radiological
investigations and mention the geographic implications of this rare
phenomenon which has not been described earlier