Bilateral hilar adenopathy: an unusual presentation of renal cell carcinoma.

Isolated symmetrical hilar adenopathy in an asymptomatic patient is an unusual presentation for pulmonary metastatic disease. In a large series of patients with bilateral hilar adenopathy only those with sarcoidosis were free of symptoms. In contrast, all the patients with hilar adenopathy secondary to extrathoracic neoplasms were symptomatic and the primary tumour was apparent.' The purpose of this communication is to describe an asymptomatic patient in whom symmetrical hilar adenopathy developed as an isolated, late manifestation of renal cell carcinoma.