Summary
Definition
History and exam
Key diagnostic factors
- asymptomatic (incidental finding)
- hematuria
- flank pain
- palpable abdominal mass
Other diagnostic factors
- nonspecific systemic symptoms
- signs of hepatic dysfunction
- myoneuropathy
- lower limb edema
- scrotal varicocele
- dermatologic manifestation (hereditary syndromes)
- vision loss (von Hippel Lindau)
Risk factors
- smoking
- male sex
- age over 55 years
- residence in developed countries
- non-Hispanic American Indian/Alaska Native ethnicity
- obesity
- hypertension
- positive family history of RCC
- history of hereditary syndromes
- history of acquired renal cystic disease
- asbestos/cadmium
- obstetric history/estrogen exposure
- pelvic radiation
Diagnostic tests
1st tests to order
- CBC
- LDH
- corrected calcium
- liver function tests
- coagulation profile
- creatinine
- estimated GFR
- urinalysis
- abdominal/pelvic ultrasound
- CT abdomen/pelvis
- MRI abdomen/pelvis
Tests to consider
- CT chest
- MRI brain/spine
- bone scan
- biopsy
- surgical pathology
- genetic evaluation
Emerging tests
- PET scan
Treatment algorithm
small renal mass or RCC stage 1 or 2
RCC stage 3
RCC stage 4 (metastatic disease)
Contributors
Authors
Rodrigo R. Pessoa, MD, PhD
Urology Fellow
Department of Urology
Mayo Clinic
Rochester
MN
Disclosures
RRP declares that he has no competing interests.
Simon Kim, MD, MPH
Associate Professor of Surgery
Associate Program Director
Anschutz Medical Campus
University of Colorado
UCSOM Division of Urology
Denver
CO
Disclosures
SK declares that he has no competing interests.
Acknowledgements
Dr Rodrigo R. Pessoa and Dr Simon Kim would like to gratefully acknowledge Dr Amishi Y. Shah, Dr Sonal Gandhi, and Jennifer J. Knox, previous contributors to this topic.
Disclosures
AYS has an unpaid advisory role for Merck pharmaceuticals. SG and JJK declare that they have no competing interests.
Peer reviewers
Stephen A. Boorjian, MD
Assistant Professor
Fox Chase Cancer Center
Philadelphia
PA
Disclosures
SAB has been reimbursed by Pfizer for serving on its speakers bureau. SAB is co-author of a reference cited in this topic.
Thomas J. Guzzo, MD, MPH
Assistant Professor of Urology and Surgery
The Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia
PA
Disclosures
TJG declares that he has no competing interests.
Jonathan Waxman, BSc, MBBS, MD, FRCP
Professor of Oncology
Imperial College
London
UK
Disclosures
JW declares that he has no competing interests.
Differentials
- Benign renal cyst
- Ureteric cancer
- Bladder cancer
More DifferentialsGuidelines
- Renal cell carcinoma
- Management of metastatic clear cell renal cell carcinoma
More GuidelinesPatient information
Kidney cancer
More Patient information- Log in or subscribe to access all of BMJ Best Practice
Use of this content is subject to our disclaimer