Renal medullary carcinoma: a systematic review of clinical and radiological findings.
William Weston, Cherry Sit, Derfel Ap Dafydd et al.
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In 30 seconds
This systematic review summarised clinical, pathological and radiological findings in published renal medullary carcinoma (RMC) cases from 1995 to 2024, including five previously unreported institutional cases. Among 219 published cases, 88% of patients with reported sickle cell status had sickle cell haemoglobinopathy; those patients presented younger than patients without it (27.3 ± 13.7 versus 34.1 ± 19.1 years, p = 0.001). Most cases were advanced at diagnosis: 70.9% were stage IV. Three-year overall survival was 74% for stage I-II, 23% for stage III and 9% for stage IV disease.
Key findings
- Sickle cell haemoglobinopathy was present in 88% of patients with reported status (n = 168/192).
- Patients with sickle cell haemoglobinopathy presented younger than those without it: 27.3 ± 13.7 versus 34.1 ± 19.1 years, p = 0.001.
- At presentation, 70.9% (n = 144/203) had stage IV disease; 20.7% (n = 42/203) had stage III disease.
- Three-year overall survival was 74% for stage I-II, 23% for stage III and 9% for stage IV disease.
Why it matters
The review consolidates the clinical and imaging pattern of a rare, aggressive renal cancer that often presents at an advanced stage. Recognition of its typical central or endophytic, hypo-enhancing and infiltrative appearance, alongside the marked stage-related survival differences, may help clinicians interpret findings and understand the seriousness of disease at presentation.
What to keep in mind
The review is based on published cases, which may not represent all patients with RMC; the abstract does not report a comparative assessment of study quality.