Page 1 - Kidney Tumours
P. 1
Urological Health
Kidney tumours
Kidney growths are common. Their nature will determine whether treatment is required.
ou have been found to have a kidney “growth” When one kidney is lost to illness, injury or surgery, the
Yor tumour. Such growths often are found other can normally take over all of its functions without
incidentally during tests such as ultrasound, x-ray or affecting health on the whole. Severe kidney damage
computerized tomography (CT) scan obtained for or loss, however, may require that its blood-cleansing
the evaluation of other conditions. The nature of your function be taken over by a dialysis machine.
kidney growth will determine whether treatment is
required and what that treatment should be. Benign kidney tumours
The kidneys filter your blood to eliminate excess water, Any abnormal growth (or “mass”) is called a tumour.
waste products and impurities that are excreted in This tumour can be benign (non-cancerous) or
urine. They maintain your fluid and electrolyte (sodium, malignant (cancerous). Malignant tumours have the
potassium) balance that is important in blood pressure ability to grow into other tissues and spread to other
regulation and the function of organ systems. Several parts of the body while benign ones do not.
hormones necessary to other bodily functions are
produced by the kidneys. An angiomyolipoma is a benign kidney tumour made
up of abnormal blood vessels, muscle and fatty
Normally, a person has two kidneys located on either tissue. CT scan usually can establish its nature. An
side of the mid-back and protected by the lower rib angiomyolipoma most often requires no treatment
cage. Each kidney is wrapped in an envelope of fat. although periodic follow-up by imaging may be useful
The adrenal glands, one found on top of each kidney, to ensure that it is not growing. If it reaches a certain
produce additional hormones. size, an angiomyolipoma may be more prone to injury
and bleeding.
Urinary tract An oncocytoma is a rare benign kidney tumour.
Unfortunately, it cannot be distinguished reliably from
kidney cancer on imaging and, therefore, surgical
removal may be required in many cases.
kidney Kidney cancer
Roula Drossis The most common malignant kidney tumour is called
renal cell carcinoma (RCC). In Canada, it is the sixth-
most common cancer in men and the tenth-most
ureter common in women. It generally occurs between
the ages of 50 and 70 years. RCC may grow slowly
without producing any symptoms until the tumour is
quite large, when it may reveal itself with blood in the
urine or pain. Most kidney cancers are now found
unexpectedly with imaging (ultrasound or CT scan)
obtained for other medical conditions.
bladder
urethra Continued on next page
Urinary tract
