Most kidney lesions are incidentally detected on imaging tests done for another purpose. They can also present with blood in your urine, flank pain or a lump you can feel in your flank.
CONDITIONS
Kidney Cancer
Common Risk Factors
• Smoking
• Obesity
• High blood pressure
• Family history
• Certain inherited conditions, such as Von Hippel-Lindau syndrome and Birt-Hogg-Dubé syndrome
• Acquired cystic disease of renal failure
How We Diagnose Kidney Cancer
• Imaging – ultrasound, CT with contrast, and MRI in uncertain cases
• PET scan – kidney-specific agents are being investigated
• Biopsy – may have a role in certain cases
How We Treat Kidney Cancer
• Active surveillance – for small renal mass < 3 cm due to low risk of spread in otherwise well patients
• Surgery – partial or radical nephrectomy
• Ablation – use of imaging-guided therapy to treat smaller lesions
• Radiotherapy – stereotactic radiotherapy may be an option for certain cases
• Chemotherapy or immunotherapy – used when cancer has spread beyond the kidney, or as treatment after surgery
