Kidney Cancer

introductionThe kidneys are a pair of bean shaped organs located in the abdomen. The function of the kidneys is to filter the blood of certain wastes creating urine. Normally, cells in the kidneys that are old or damaged will stop dividing and die before they can become cancerous. These cells are normally replaced by healthy young cells. Kidney cancer occurs when old or damaged cells continue to divide and multiply uncontrollably

Kidney cancer is most treatable and curable if

caught in the earliest stage of the disease.

Untreated and/or advanced kidney cancer

can spread from the kidney into surrounding

tissues and into the lymph nodes, lungs,

liver, bones and brain, where it can form

another cancerous tumor This is called

metastasis .

Kidney cancer is more common in men than in

women.

.

Diagnosing kidney cancer begins with taking a

thorough personal and family medical

history, including symptoms and risk

factors for kidney cancer. Diagnosis also

includes completing a physical

examination.

A test on the urine, called an urinanalysis, is

performed to check for blood in the urine

(hematuria) and to rule-out certain other

conditions with similar symptoms, such as

a bladder infection or kidney stones.

Rarely, a kidney biopsy may be necessary. A kidney

biopsy involves removing a sample of cells from the

kidney tumor with a very fine needle inserted

through the skin. The sample of cells is then

examined under a microscope for the presence of

cancer cells to confirm a diagnosis.

The prognosis for people with kidney cancer varies

depending on the stage of advancement of the

cancer, the specific type of kidney cancer, and other

factors. Treatment of kidney cancer may include

surgery, radiation therapy, targeted therapy,

immunotherapy and/or chemotherapy

The most common form of kidney cancer is renal cell

cancer.

Causes

Age and Gender as Risk Factors

 

The Genetic Connection

What’s Your History?

 

Lifestyle Links

Obesity and RCC

High Blood Pressure, Higher

Risk

Symptoms

Hematuria

Lower Back Pain

Lump

Anemia

Fatigue

Fever

Weight Loss

Other Symptoms

Physical examination:

FeverHigh blood pressure

Lab tests: Complete blood countUrinanalysisSerum calcium

DIAGNOSIS

Imaging tests:Ultrasound abdomen 

Abdominal CT scanMRI scanPET scanRenal angiographyIntravenous pyelogramChest x rayBone scanBiopsy

Fine needle aspiration Core needle biopsy

STAGING (CONTINUED)

�҉N categories for kidney cancer: •N0: No spread to nearby lymph nodes

•N1: tumor has spread to nearby lymph nodes�҉ M categories for kidney cancer:

•M0: There is no spread to distant lymph nodes or other organs

•M1: Distant metastasis is present ,distant lymph nodes and to organs like lungs, bone, brain and liver

STAGING (CONTINUED)

HOW TO TREAT RENAL CANCER�҉ If only in kidneys, it can be cured

90% of the time with surgery.

�҉If it has spread outside the kidneys into the nodes or

the main vein, it must be treated with cytoreductive surgery.

�҉RRC is resistant to chemo and radiotherapy in most

cases�҉ May respond to immunotherapy

⃝PARTIAL NEPHRECTOMY: �҉For treating small renal tumors(<

4cm)

�҉ Bilateral renal cell carcinoma

�҉ It can be done via laproscopic techniques:

.

⃝RADICAL NEPHRECTOMY:�҉ Surgical removal of kidney along

with adrenal gland, retroperitoneal lymphnodes, perinephric fat and Gerota's fascia

�҉ In cases where the tumor has spread into the renal vein, IVC and right atrium, this portion of tumor can be surgically removed as well.

�҉ Medications like tyrosine kinase inhibitors including nexavar and rapamycin have shown to improve the prognosis for advanced RCC

Thank you

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