Purpose: We studied the significance, identification and management of acquired von Willebrand disease and polycythemia associated with benign renal tumors in children.
Materials and methods: Two patients who presented with polycythemia and a renal mass were also found to have acquired von Willebrand disease. One patient was treated with radical nephrectomy and 1 was treated with partial nephrectomy. The patients have been followed for 19 and 10 months, respectively.
Results: Excision of the renal mass resulted in prompt resolution of polycythemia and von Willebrand disease in each patient. Perioperatively 1-deamino-(8-D-arginine)-vasopressin was given to control bleeding. Each patient had benign embryonal adenoma of the kidney.
Conclusions: Polycythemia and von Willebrand disease may be associated with benign kidney neoplasms. Children and adolescents with a renal mass may benefit from preoperative screening for coagulopathy.