Kidney Tumors
Kidney tumors, also known as renal tumors, are growths that can be benign or malignant (cancerous). Several types of cancer can develop in the kidneys. Renal cell carcinoma (RCC), the most common form, accounts for approximately 85% of all cases. In RCC, cancerous (malignant) cells develop in the lining of the kidney's tubules and grow into a mass called a tumor. In most cases, a single tumor develops, although more than one tumor can develop within one or both kidneys. The primary symptoms of kidney cancer are:
- Abdominal mass or lump
- Blood in the urine
- Fever
- High blood pressure
- Pain in the side (flank) or lower back not associated with injury
- Persistent fatigue
- Rapid, unexplained weight loss
- Swelling (edema) in the legs and ankles
Treatment usually involves surgical removal of the kidney, ureter, and portion of the bladder connecting to the ureter. Depending on the stage of the cancer, chemotherapy and radiation may be used as adjuvant treatments.