Intractable Hiccups, an Unusual Presentation of Renal Cell Carcinoma

Abstract

Hiccups are involuntary spasms of the diaphragm with closure of the glottis. This involves a complex neural pathway which includes the phrenic, vagus and the sympathetic pathways, it is usually self-limiting and resolves within a few minutes after onset. Hiccups are described as chronic when it lasts more than 48 hours and intractable when it persists for more than a month. Intractable hiccups are said to have an organic cause in 80% of cases and the remaining 20% psychogenic in origin, Some of the organic causes of intractable hiccups include: liver cancer, adrenal tumours, and kidney tumours. We present a case of right renal cell carcinoma which presented as intractable hiccups and was successfully managed by performing a radical right nephrectomy.