Osteoblastic metastases in renal cell carcinoma

Renal cell carcinoma (hypernephroma, renal adenocarcinoma) metastasizes to the skeleton in approximately 10% of cases and characteristically produces expansile lytic lesions (Forbes et al., 1977). Although sclerotic changes may be seen following radiotherapy, osteosclerotic metastases in this condition prior to therapy are virtually unknown (Forbes et al., 1977; Sherman and Pearson, 1948). We report here well-documented case of renal cell carcinoma which produced osteoblastic metastases and was confirmed by autopsy examination.