Kidney cancer following occupational exposure to trichloroethylene: Clinical case series and review of the literature.

Introduction: This case study describes the clinical, medical and administrative management of kidney cancer secondary to occupational exposure to trichloroethylene, a chlorinated solvent classified as a known carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer.

Method: Data were collected from the computerized records of all patients treated by the occupational medicine department of Montpellier University Hospital for kidney cancer following occupational exposure to trichloroethylene.

Results: The study included five patients aged between 36 and 64years. Clinical characteristics (histology, stage at diagnosis and disease course) were variable. The patients had all been exposed to trichloroethylene before the year 2000, with a mean delay to diagnosis of 31years.

Conclusion: Kidney cancer is a frequent pathology, often discovered by chance, even at metastatic stages. Knowledge of occupational risks enables us to set up primary and secondary prevention measures (early detection), as well as a specific medical and social care pathway.

Level Of Evidence: Not available.