genitourinary disorders
Renal Cell Carcinoma
Introduction
Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is the most common renal cancer. Symptoms can include hematuria, flank pain, a palpable mass, and fever of unknown origin (FUO). However, symptoms are often absent, so the diagnosis is usually suspected based on incidental findings. Diagnosis is confirmed by CT or MRI and occasionally by biopsy. Treatment is with surgery for early disease and targeted therapy, an experimental protocol, or palliative therapy for advanced disease. RCC, an adenocarcinoma, accounts for 90 to 95% of primary malignant renal tumors. Less common primary renal tumors include transitional cell carcinoma, Wilms Tumor (most often in children), and sarcoma. In the United States, about 81,800 new cases of RCC and other kidney tumors and 14,890 deaths (2023 estimates) occur each year ( General reference ). RCC occurs more often in men (male:female incidence is about 2:1). People with RCC are usually diagnosed between 65 and 74 years old. Risk factors include the following: Smoking, which doubles the risk Obesity Hypertension None Excess use of phenacetin Acquired Overview of Cystic Kidney Disease in patients on dialysis Exposure to certain radiopaque contrast agents, asbestos, cadmium, and leather tanning and petroleum products Some familial syndromes, particularly Von Hippel–Lindau Disease (VHL) and RCC can trigger thrombus formation in the renal vein, which occasionally propagates into the vena cava. Tumor invasion of the vein wall is uncommon. RCC metastasizes most often to the lymph nodes, lungs, adrenal glands, liver, brain, and bone. 