Synchronous colorectal and renal carcinomas: A noteworthy clinical entity - Report of five cases

PURPOSE: This study was designed to highlight the incidence of synchronous colorectal and renal carcinomas and to review the literature on that issue. The case reports of five patients who presented with synchronous colorecta l and renal cell carcinomas are presented. METHODS: A retrospective study, using systematic medical chart review, analyzed the cases of all patients w ho underwent large-bowel resection for colorectal cancer in our department between December 1996 and December 1998. RESULTS: Among 103 patients who un derwent colorectal surgery during that period, five cases of synchronous co lorectal and renal carcinomas were detected (4.85 percent). CONCLUSIONS: Ba sed on our findings, we recommend the routine use of preoperative imaging s tudies to exclude synchronous asymptomatic renal lesions in patients presen ting with colorectal cancer.