What is considered a small renal mass?

Small renal masses (SRMs), as a clinical entitiy, are defined as enhancing tumours <4 cm in diameter, with image characteristics consistent with stage T1aN0M0 renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Most, but not all, SRMs are RCC.

Can small kidney cancer spread?

If cancer is discovered and treated in a small kidney tumor, it is has little chance of spreading. In addition, most small kidney cancers will not spread or cause death if left alone and watched for growth. The amount of growth helps decide whether treatment is needed.

Is metastatic kidney cancer curable?

And like other cancers, it can spread to other parts of your body. That’s when doctors call it metastatic. You might also hear it called stage IV kidney cancer. Sometimes, doctors can cure it.

What is small renal cell carcinoma?

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is a kidney cancer that originates in the lining of the proximal convoluted tubule, a part of the very small tubes in the kidney that transport primary urine. RCC is the most common type of kidney cancer in adults, responsible for approximately 90–95% of cases.

What is the difference between a tumor and a renal mass?

The word renal means kidney. The words “tumor” and “mass” mean abnormal growths in the body. A renal mass, or tumor, is an abnormal growth in the kidney. Some renal masses are benign (not cancerous) and some are malignant (cancerous). One in four renal masses are benign. Smaller masses are more likely to be benign.

What are the options for metastatic renal cell carcinoma?

Treatment options for metastatic renal cell carcinoma may include surgery, immunotherapy, or chemotherapy. Kidney cancer surgery is often reserved for stage 1 or 2. Stage 3 cancers can also be operated on, but the extent to which the cancer has spread will determine if surgery is a possibility.

When does kidney cancer become a metastasis?

Patients may have no other manifestation of cancer other than their painful bone lesion. Because the primary tumor can grow fairly large without creating local symptoms such as flank pain or a mass in the abdomen, kidney cancer often presents only when a metastasis develops.

What does it mean when a kidney tumor is localized?

Localized means that the tumor has not spread out from where it first started. Around 40% of kidney cancers are localized renal masses. Masses may be solid or cystic (having fluid). Most cystic masses are benign. What do we Know about Kidney Cancers?