Watkins Christopher T, Tao Cliff, Yochum Terry R
New York Chiropractic College, Seneca Falls, NY, USA.
J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2009 Sep;32(7):597-600. doi: 10.1016/j.jmpt.2009.08.002.
The aim of this case study is to describe a patient with low back pain due to renal cell carcinoma (RCC). A brief review of RCC, including clinical presentation, diagnostic imaging, treatment, and outcomes, is discussed.
A 44-year-old man presented to a chiropractic clinic with chronic low back pain. Lumbar spine radiographs and follow-up computed tomography scan revealed renal calcification, which was first thought to be calcified hematoma, but later, biopsy confirmed that it was RCC.
A nephrectomy was performed. At 7-year follow-up, the patient is healthy.
Renal cell carcinoma is not uncommon, and its varied clinical presentation may lead individuals to seek a variety of health care providers. Spine practitioners should be aware of the possibility of RCC in the clinical presentation of low back pain.
