Renal cancer

Abstract

Cancers of the kidney may be primary or secondary in origin. The vast majority of primary cancers are renal cell carcinomas, diagnosed incidentally on abdominal imaging. Secondary tumours found in the kidney are evaluated and managed depending on other clinical findings, including extent of the original cancer. The common original sites of spread include breast, lung, skin and lymph. Surgery remains the only curative therapy for renal cancer, and longer-term prognosis remains poor. Cancer referrals and diagnosis are an important aspect to increased successful curative treatment. The aim of this article is to evaluate renal cancer and give an overview of the important aspects from prevalence through diagnosis and staging, to treatment and management.