• Genitourinary Oncology

• Patient Care
• Diagnostic and Treatment Services
• Physicians and Staff
• Prostate Health Glossary
• Trilogy Radiation Therapy
• Robotic Prostatectomy
• Prostate Seed Implants
• Patient Education...
• 
    Related Resources
• Clinical Trials
• Information for Patients
• The Maryland Prostate Center

Genitourinary Oncology Program

Patient and Family Education

Kidney Cancer (Renal Cancer)

Symptoms and Diagnosis

These symptoms for kidney cancer may also be caused by other conditions. Consult your doctor if you are experiencing any/all of the following:

• blood in the urine
• low back pain (not caused by an injury)
• unrelieved pain in the side
• mass or lump in the belly
• fatigue, tiredness
• loss of appetite
• rapid, unexplained weight loss
• recurrent fever (not caused by a cold or the flu)
• swelling of ankles and legs
• high blood pressure (less frequently)
• anemia (less frequently)

Additional tests may be ordered by your physician to determine if these symptoms are a result of kidney cancer

Diagnosis

If a patient has symptoms of kidney cancer, a doctor may take the patient's medical history and perform a physical examination, and run routine blood and urine laboratory tests. Additional evaluation procedures may include:

• intravenous pyelogram (IVP) - a series of x-rays of the kidneys, ureters, and bladder with the injection of a dye to show changes in the shape of these organs and nearby lymph nodes.
• arteriography - a series of x-rays of the blood vessels with the injection of a dye to show the dye as it moves through the network of blood vessels in and around the kidney.
• other imaging tests - include computed tomography (CT scan), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and/or ultrasonography, which can show the difference between diseased and healthy tissues.

Based on results of other tests and procedures, a biopsy may be needed. A biopsy is a procedure in which a sample of the tumor is removed and sent to the laboratory for examination under a microscope by a pathologist. Biopsy is the only sure way to diagnose cancer

This page was last updated on: October 6, 2009.

Please rate the quality of this article. Do you find this article to be helpful / informative?                Poor                                       Excellent Do you have any brief comments on this page: (up to 255 characters) Note: If you have a question, please contact Ask the Expert.

Email this Page                                                                     Print this Page