A rare case of renal medullary carcinoma without sickle cell hemoglobinopathy in a Japanese woman

Diagnostic and treatment guidelines for renal medullary carcinoma are not established. A 52-year-old Japanese woman presented to her general physician with symptoms of cough and respiratory distress. A primary malignant tumor of the right kidney and multiple metastases were suspected during imaging; therefore, she was referred to our department for consultation. The results of a computed tomography-guided tumor biopsy revealed a diagnosis of renal medullary carcinoma without sickle cell hemoglobinopathy. This case was atypical because renal medullary carcinoma was not accompanied by sickle cell hemoglobinopathy and the patient was Japanese.