Renal cell carcinoma and malignant phase hypertension

Many cross-sectional and follow-up studies of large numbers of patients wit h hypertension have demonstrated an increased prevalence and mortality from renal cancer. We report the details of three patients with renal cell carc inoma from a series of 254 consecutive patients with malignant phase hypert ension, an excess over the expected number reported from several large publ ished series with nonmalignant hypertension. Tn view of this excess we inve stigated the prevalence of hypertension in a series of 192 consecutive pati ents who presented with a diagnosis of renal cell carcinoma, in comparison with a local unselected population screening survey. Hypertension was found in 43% of the renal carcinoma patients and 20% of the local population, al so a clear excess. The mechanism of the association between renal cancer an d malignant and non-malignant hypertension is unclear.