Renal cell carcinoma

Alternative names:

adenocarcinoma of renal cells; cancer of the kidney; hypernephroma; kidney cancer; renal cancer

Definition:

A form of kidney cancer that involves cancerous changes in the cells of the renal tubule

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

Renal cell carcinoma is a form of kidney cancer caused when cells in the lining of the renal tubule undergo cancerous changes. It is the most common type of kidney cancer, affecting about 3 out of 10,000 people. There are about 18,000 new cases in the U.S. per year, with about 8,000 deaths per year in the U.S. from the disorder. It is more common in men than women, usually men over 55 years old.

Why the cells become cancerous is not known. A history of smoking greatly increases the risk for developing renal cell carcinoma. There may be a hereditary component involved in the tendency to develop renal cell carcinoma. A history of kidney cancer (in the patient or family) increases the risk. People with von Hippel-Lindau disease, a hereditary disorder that affects the capillaries of the brain, commonly also develop renal cell carcinoma. Kidney disorders that require dialysis for treatment also increase the risk for developing renal cell carcinoma.

The disorder is diagnosed in most cases on investigation for causes of blood in the urine. It is not uncommon for both kidneys to be involved. The cancer metastasizes (spreads) easily, most often to the lungs and other organs, with about one-third of cases showing metastasis at the time of diagnosis.