Renal cell carcinoma in a setting of chronic lithium toxicity.
METHODS
Female, 72 FINAL DIAGNOSIS: Renal cell carcinoma Symptoms: -


METHODS
- Clinical Procedure: - Specialty: Oncology.


OBJECTIVE
Challenging differential diagnosis.


BACKGROUND
Lithium salts are widely used in the treatment of affective disorders of the bipolar type. Lithium is a nephrotoxic substance which can cause both acute and chronic renal disease, including cyst formation. Cysts appear to predispose the kidney to renal cell carcinoma.


METHODS
A case of renal cell carcinoma in a background of acquired cystic disease due to chronic lithium toxicity is described.


CONCLUSIONS
Kidneys with multiple cysts are at risk of renal cell carcinoma. Although it is difficult to determine if long term Lithium use renal cell carcinoma, patients leads to the development of on long-term lithium therapy should undergo regular renal function and imaging tests.
Manning Rural Referral Hospital, Darwin, Australia.
Ibrahim
I
Zardawi
Santoshi
S
Nagonkar
Purvish
P
Patel
Lithium and NSAID; renal cell carcinoma; renal cysts