OBJECTIVE: To report a case of hemosiderin-rich,pigmented renal cell carcinoma.METHODS: A 70-year-old patient referred several episodes ofgross hematuria during the last few weeks, without any othersymptoms. CT demonstrated a renal mass compatible with carcinoma.A right renal nephrectomy was performed.RESULTS: Anatomopathological analysis revealed ahemosiderin-rich, pigmented, papillary renal cell carcinoma localizedto the renal capsule that stained blue with the iron staining method.The postoperative period was unremarkable and the patient isasymptomatic one year postoperatively.CONCLUSION: Papillary renal cell carcinoma can present as apigmented lesion due to the accumulation of iron in the cytoplasm.This peculiar form must be distinguished from neuromelaninpigmentedlesions.