Kidneys & urinary tractCancerICD-10 C64
Kidney cancer (renal cell carcinoma)
Cancer of the kidney, increasingly found incidentally on scans done for other reasons.
Condition-specific references are below. Individual claims and this page have not been clinically reviewed. Read about this content.
Causes
- Genetic mutations (VHL)
Risk factors
- Smoking
- Obesity
- Hypertension
- Chronic dialysis
- Von Hippel–Lindau syndrome
Symptoms
- Blood in urine
- Flank pain
- Abdominal mass
- Often none
Diagnosis — tests and examinations
- Contrast CT
- Biopsy in selected cases
Treatment
Medicines and medical treatment
- Immunotherapy and tyrosine kinase inhibitors for advanced disease
- Adjuvant pembrolizumab for high-risk resected tumours
Operations and procedures
- Partial or radical nephrectomy
- Ablation for small tumours
- Active surveillance for small masses
Self-care, home remedies and lifestyle
- Stop smoking; blood pressure and weight control
Possible complications
- Spread to lungs and bone
Prevention
- Not smoking, healthy weight
Outlook
Over 90% cure for small localised tumours.
When to see a doctor
See a doctor for blood in the urine or persistent side pain.
Sources and further reading
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