Case report: Sarcomatoid renal cell carcinoma masquerading as hydronephrosis

Abstract

Sarcomatoid renal cell carcinoma (SRCC), a manifestation of sarcomatoid dedifferentiation in renal cell carcinoma, is characterized by elevated invasiveness and a grim prognosis. Typically, SRCC patients present with advanced or metastatic conditions and survival rates rarely extend beyond one year. In this study, we describe a case of SRCC characterized by the patient exhibiting right flank pain without hematuria. Initially, imaging interpretations led to a diagnosis of severe hydronephrosis. Subsequently, an open right nephrectomy post-surgery confirmed the pathology of sarcomatoid renal cell carcinoma.