[Paraneoplastic urticarial vasculitis and renal carcinoma]

Paraneoplastic syndromes have been described in various types of tumours, but are rarely associated with renal cancer. Paraneoplastic cutaneous manifestations, consisting of urticarial vasculitis are exceptional and can sometimes constitute the presenting sign of a completely asymptomatic renal cancer. This vasculitis resolves after curative treatment of the tumour, confirming its paraneoplastic nature. The authors report a case of a paraneoplastic urticarial vasculitis associated with the discovery of an asymptomatic renal carcinoma in a 37-year-old man and discuss paraneoplastic cutaneous syndromes that must be recognised to allow earlier diagnosis of renal tumours.