Medical Health Encyclopedia

Renal cell carcinoma


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Kidney anatomy
Kidney anatomy
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Kidney - blood and urine flow
Kidney metastases, CT scan
Kidney metastases, CT scan
Kidney tumor - CT scan
Kidney tumor - CT scan
Overview Symptoms Treatment Prevention
Definition

Renal cell carcinoma is a type of kidney cancer in which the cancerous cells are found in the lining of very small tubes (tubules) in the kidney.


Alternative Names

Renal cancer; Kidney cancer; Hypernephroma; Adenocarcinoma of renal cells; Cancer - kidney


Causes, incidence, and risk factors

Renal cell carcinoma is the most common type of kidney cancer in adults. It occurs most often in men ages 50 - 70.

The exact cause is unknown.

Risk factors include:

  • Dialysis treatment
  • Family history of the disease
  • Genetics
  • High blood pressure
  • Horseshoe kidney
  • Smoking
  • Von Hippel-Lindau disease (a hereditary disease that affects the capillaries of the brain, eyes, and other body parts)


Review Date: 03/02/2010
Reviewed By: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; Yi-Bin Chen, MD, Leukemia/Bone Marrow Transplant Program, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org).




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