Kidney cancer ranks 10th in terms of prevalence among malignant tumors. It was once considered a pathology of older age, but in recent years, the disease has become increasingly common among younger people as well.
90-95% of kidney cancers are renal cell carcinoma. It is occasionally referred to as adenocarcinoma or hypernephroma. The remaining two types, renal sarcoma and Wilms tumor, are much rarer.
Kidney Cancer Symptoms
There are three characteristic symptoms associated with kidney cancer: hematuria, the presence of a new formation in the abdominal cavity, and pain.
Hematuria refers to the presence of blood in the urine. It is classified into microhematuria and macrohematuria.
- In microhematuria, the blood elements in the urine can only be detected under a microscope.
- In macrohematuria, these elements can be clearly seen with the naked eye.
Hematuria most often appears in an individual who otherwise seems completely healthy. It is not accompanied by pain, which is typically a feature of hematuria associated with kidney stone disease. In kidney cancer, hematuria often disappears quickly, but it may recur after a few days, months, or even years.
Bleeding is a result of tumor growth. As the tumor enlarges, it damages the blood vessel-rich tissues of the kidney. Sometimes, a blood clot forms, which could cause a kidney abscess similar to that of kidney stones. Over time, the tumor becomes noticeable in size, and a new formation appears in the abdominal area.
The kidney can be palpated from the side of the abdomen along with the tumor. In some cases, individuals with low body fat may notice the tumor in its early stages. As the tumor grows unchecked, it can extend beyond the kidney capsule and spread to neighboring structures. It compresses nerve endings, leading to the third symptom – pain. Pain in the early stages of cancer occurs in only 10-15% of cases. Its presence usually indicates a more advanced stage of the cancer. The advanced tumor damages blood vessels as well.
Disruption of Venous Blood Flow in the Inferior Vena Cava
There is a disruption in the venous blood flow in the inferior vena cava, leading to symptoms characteristic of venous congestion. In men, this results in varicocele. Pain may also be a consequence of the development of lesions in other affected organs. Kidney cancer is known for metastasizing to almost every tissue and organ. Most commonly, metastases spread to the lungs, liver, and bones.
In kidney cancer, the number of erythrocytes in the blood significantly increases. The calcium level rises, blood pressure increases, and liver function is disrupted. The disease is characterized by symptoms that are also common in some other pathologies:
- Persistent feeling of fatigue and exhaustion
- Unexplained weight loss
- Swelling of the legs
Kidney Cancer – Causes!
Several indirect factors are known to promote the development of kidney cancer:
- Tobacco use – Kidney cancer occurs twice as often among smokers.
- Obesity – Excessive weight increases the likelihood of developing kidney cancer by 20%.
- Arterial hypertension.
- Certain medications. (Notably, long-term use of diuretics increases the risk of developing kidney cancer.)
- A significant factor is working in industries that use aniline-based dyes. Several chemical substances have been found in aniline dyes, which, together with the kidneys, contribute to the development of bladder cancer as well.
Kidney Cancer Diagnosis
The main diagnostic methods are:
- Ultrasound of the kidney
- Abdominal cavity examination
- Urography (kidney examination using contrast agents)
- Radionuclide scanning
- Computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
Radionuclide scanning, CT, and MRI allow for highly accurate determination of tumor spread. X-rays of the lungs, chest cavity, and pelvic organs are essential. Additionally, radionuclide scanning of the bones is necessary to detect metastases.
Kidney Cancer Treatment
The primary treatment method is surgical. Surgical intervention is necessary in almost every case where it is possible. In the Karazanashvili Robotic Center, laparoscopic nephrectomy is performed for kidney cancer. The surgery can be done both radically, where the entire kidney, fat capsule, and renal pelvis are removed, and conservatively, through partial nephrectomy. The latter is primarily used in the early stages of the cancer when the tumor has not yet spread to neighboring organs.
When it is impossible to remove the entire kidney because the remaining kidney cannot perform the function of expelling harmful substances from the body, a conservative operation is performed, removing only part of the kidney. However, there remains a high risk of local recurrence.
Kidney Cancer – Prognosis
One of the main tasks of modern oncological surgery is to establish an individual prognosis and determine the treatment strategy. Currently, the following are considered unfavorable prognostic factors:
- The general severe condition of the organism.
- The full set of clinical symptoms at the time of diagnosis.
- A reduction in body mass by 10% or more.
The patient’s age and gender do not influence the prognosis, just as with all other malignant cancers. An optimistic prognosis is possible when kidney cancer is detected in its early stages. Recent studies show that modern surgical operations significantly extend the life expectancy of patients.
The Karazanashvili Robotic Center offers kidney cancer diagnosis and treatment using methods that comply with global medical standards.
