Erythrocytosis and renal cell carcinoma with pulmonary metastases: case report with 18-year followup and brief discussion of literature.

A 42-year-old man was admitted to the Cancer Division of the American MedicalCenter in February, 1956. He had been treated for erythrocytosis beginning 6 months previously, with reduction of his hemoglobin to relatively normal values. On admission, a huge tumor of the left kidney was palable. Roentgenograms of the chest demonstrated small bilateral pulmonary metastases. A left nephrectomy was per formed, followed by wedge resection of a total of 16 metastatic nodules, 12 of which showed metasticrenal carcinoma. It is now 18 years since the last thoracotomy and the patient is well, leading a normal life, and free of any demonstrable malignant disease and any evidenceof erythrocytosis.