Resolving erythrocytosis and hypertension after open surgical extirpation of giant renal cyst measuring 30 cm: Case report

Abstract

The case of giant renal cyst measuring 30 cm, accompanied by abdominal swelling and erythrocytosis, is presented. A 45-year-old male presented with large abdominal mass, atrophic left kidney, hypertension, and erythrocytosis. The patient underwent multiple preoperative phlebotomies, open extirpation of the cyst, and nephrectomy. After the surgery, erythrocytosis ceased completely, blood pressure became normal without any medications whereas function of the remaining kidney was stable. The giant renal cysts measuring more than 15 cm are extremely rare. However, they can cause erythrocytosis and hypertension very frequently, especially in the case of cysts originating from the proximal tubule. To our knowledge, this is the largest renal cyst published in the literature that caused the above-mentioned complications. © 2011 Informa Healthcare USA, Inc.