Paraneoplastic cough in three patients with renal cell carcinoma

BACKGROUND: Many paraneoplastic syndromes have been related to renal cell c arcinoma, but not cough. CASE REPORT: We report 3 cases of renal cell carcinoma revealed by chronic cough that had the characteristics of a paraneoplastic syndrome. In 2 cases , lung micromodules were found but were too small to explain the couch by l ung injury. Moreover, the regression of cough in the 3 patients after nephr ectomy suggested that the primary tumor was the cause of the cough. In ligh t of findings in other paraneoplastic syndromes described in patients with renal cell carcinoma, we suggest that hormonal factors such as cytokines co uld be involved. CONCLUSION: These 3 observations suggest that it can be useful to look for renal cell carcinoma in patients presenting with an unexplained persistent chronic cough, especially when it is associated with an inflammatory syndro me.