Renal cell carcinoma: a pediatric case report

A 12-year-old girl was admitted to the Department of Pediatrics with the complaints of a large swelling and pain in her upper left quadrant following a blunt trauma three days prior to the referral. Computed tomography revealed a mass around the left kidney compatible with a large hematoma, and open surgical exploration was performed. Left nephrectomy was carried out since the frozen section specimen obtained from the wall of the mass that was full of hematoma was suspicious for malignancy. Result of the histopathological examination was clear cell carcinoma limited to the kidney. Our case, who developed a renal cell carcinoma at a young age, might have been diagnosed too late if the trauma had not happened. Literally, "a blunt trauma to her kidney might have saved her life."