Nonmetastatic renal cell carcinoma presenting with persistent cough: Case report with literature review

Abstract

Renal cell carcinomas (RCC), constitute 80– 85% of primary renal neoplasms. The classic triad of RCC (flank pain, hematuria, and a palpable abdominal renal mass) occurs in approximately 9% of patients; it strongly suggests locally advanced disease. RCC may also be associated with a number of paraneoplastic syndromes. These are typically due to ectopic production of various hormones. We present a 69-year-old male patient previously healthy presented to the emergency department with recurrent persistent cough. A non-metastatic RCC was incidentally discovered. Eventually, he underwent left radical nephrectomy. One year has passed with no cough. This is a rare and unusual presentation of RCC that falls under the category of paraneoplastic syndrome with review of similar reported cases and summary of all paraneoplastic syndromes associated with RCC in literature.

Keywords

• cough
• paraneoplastic syndrome
• prostaglandins
• renal cell carcinoma