Regresión espontánea tras nefrectomía de carcinoma renal metastásico: aportación de un caso con confirmación histológica y revisión de la literatura

the clinical manifestations of renal cell carcinoma are often late, so that approximately one third of the patients have metastatic disease at the time of diagnosis. in this case, the survival rate diminishes dramatically, with an average survival time of 12 months. however, some cases of spontaneous regression have been reported for this kind of tumor, either complete and permanent or partial and temporary. spontaneous regression occurs in 0.4-4.0% of the patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma. many factors have been proposed as related with this rare but favorable event, but until now the origin remains unknown and no prediction can be made. we present a case of renal cell carcinoma with histologic confirmation of lung metastases and local relapse showing a spontaneous regression after nephrectomy.