METASTASES FROM RENAL-CELL CARCINOMA TO THE HUMERUS OR THE SHOULDER GIRDLE

Objective To discuss the clinical presentation of metastases in the sc apula and/or humerus resulting from renal cell carcinoma and the cours es of treatment available. Patients A series of 35 patients with humer al or scapular metastases from renal cell carcinoma, treated at The No rwegian Radium Hospital (NRH) during an 11-year period, is reviewed. T wo case reports are examined in detail. Results The median survival wa s 12 months (range 1-88) from the time of diagnosis of metastasis. Thr ee patients lived for more than 50 months. Conclusion Owing to the rel atively long survival time, especially in patients with limited tumour burden elsewhere and who are in a good general state of health, long- lasting palliative treatment of the humeral or scapular metastases is aimed for. Renal cell carcinoma tends to be resistant to radiotherapy, and early treatment, combining orthopaedic surgery and high-dose radi otherapy, is advocated.