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A Paradigm Shift in Renal Cell Carcinoma: Recognizing Hypoglycaemia as a Significant Paraneoplastic Syndrome

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: Recurrent hypoglycaemia is a rare paraneoplastic syndrome associated with several cancers, including renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Here we present a curious case of a patient with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) who had numerous hospitalisations due to recurrent hypoglycaemia. A well-defined lesion at the lower pole of the right kidney and bilateral pyelonephritis were found during imaging investigations. A biopsy from the lesion confirmed clear cell carcinoma of the kidney and the most probable cause of recurrent hypoglycemia was paraneoplastic syndrome related to RCC. Analysis of Insulin-like growth factor levels revealed that recurrent hypoglycaemia might be the result of non-islet cell tumor-hypoglycaemia (NICTH). This case emphasizes how crucial it is to rule out paraneoplastic syndromes like NICTH in individuals presenting with hypoglycaemia that cannot be explained, even when pre-existing diabetes is present. Furthermore, this study emphasizes the need to include RCC in the differential diagnosis.

Source: Cureus

DOI: 10.7759/cureus.73276

Authors: Madhumitha S, Deepankumar T, Krishnaswamy Madhavan, Anand C D, Janardanan Kumar

Institutions: SRM Institute of Science and Technology, SRM Medical College Hospital and Research Centre

Language: English

Topic: Renal cell carcinoma treatment

Subfield: Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: diamond

OpenAlex ID: W4404186692