Laser resection of an endotracheal mass: Initial presentation of metastatic renal cancer

We report an unusual case of partial airway obstruction resulting from distant metastasis of a clear-cell carcinoma of the kidney. This patient had no prior diagnosis of cancer before the tracheal mass was resected, and postresection workup revealed the primary kidney tumor. The patient presented with a 1-year history of persistent cough and believed that he had a retained foreign body secondary to aspirating an almond in the past. The patient underwent successful endoscopic resection of the endotracheal mass using a holmium:YAG laser.