Masses detected in the kidney should be carefully assessed according to their size, structure, and risk of spread.
When to seek emergency care
If any of the following signs occur, call *3003 immediately — do not wait for a routine appointment:
- A large amount of blood in the urine
- Severe flank pain
- Fever and chills
- Sudden weakness
- Reduced urine output
What is it?
The decision is based on tumor size, imaging characteristics, kidney function, the patient’s age, and comorbidities.
Symptoms
- Often asymptomatic
- Blood in the urine
- Flank pain
- Weight loss
- Fatigue
- High blood pressure
Causes & risk factors
- Age
- Smoking
- Familial risk
- Certain genetic syndromes
- Chronic kidney disease
- Excess weight
Diagnosis
Diagnosis is not based on a single test alone. Symptoms, risk factors, physical examination, and instrumental findings are assessed together.
- Ultrasound
- Contrast-enhanced CT or MRI
- Kidney function tests
- Biopsy in selected cases
- Urological assessment
Treatment approaches
Treatment is individualized according to disease severity, the patient’s overall condition, comorbidities, and procedural risk.
- Active surveillance
- Thermal ablation in selected cases
- Surgical treatment
- Embolization in some cases of bleeding or before surgery
- Oncological treatment
How we help
At the center, renal tumors are assessed together with imaging findings and kidney function. For small, suitable masses, the need for interventional radiology-guided ablation or biopsy is discussed.
When a procedure may be needed
Ablation may be needed for small localized tumors in selected patients at high surgical risk; biopsy if the diagnosis is unclear; and embolization if bleeding occurs.
Patient checklist
- Bring CT/MRI images
- Have creatinine and kidney function tests checked
- Do not delay seeking care if there is blood in the urine
- Report any blood-thinning medications
FAQ
Is a renal tumor always cancer?
No. However, its imaging characteristics must be assessed carefully.
Is a biopsy always necessary?
No. In some cases, imaging and the treatment plan can be determined without a biopsy.
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