The National Cancer Institute estimates that over 58,000 individuals will be diagnosed with kidney cancer in the United States in 2010 and more than 13,000 people will die from the disease that same year. Treatment is most effective when the disease is caught at an early stage, and though kidney cancer may be difficult to detect, signs and symptoms do appear and are apparent on diagnostic tests.
Risk Factors and Symptoms
The exact causes of kidney cancer are not known, but there are risk factors that can increase an individual's likelihood of developing the disease. These risk factors include smoking cigarettes, obesity, high blood pressure, being male and having long-term dialysis, according to the National Cancer Institute. Kidney cancers typically do not cause symptoms in the early stages of the disease, says the American Cancer Society, but as they progress, can cause various bodily symptoms. The National Cancer Institute lists several symptoms, including blood in the urine, lower back pain, fatigue, swelling in the ankles and legs, persistent fever, unintentional weight loss, anemia and a lump on the lower back or side. These may be symptoms of other ailments and should be evaluated by a health care professional.
Imaging Tests
Imaging tests help physicians visualize cross-sections of the body that may contain tumors and with kidney cancer, the American Cancer Society states that imaging studies are typically sufficient to diagnose kidney cancer without a biopsy. Tests done to help detect renal cancer include CT scans, MRI, ultrasounds and PET scans. Sometimes angiography is used in order to visualize renal blood vessels, which usually look different when cancer is present, according to the American Cancer Society. These imaging tests may also be performed to evaluate if the cancer has spread to other organs or areas of the body.
Lab Tests
Laboratory tests provide signs of kidney cancer that help aid in diagnosing the disease or confirming a diagnosis. Lab tests used to detect kidney cancer include a urinalysis, complete blood count or CBC, blood chemistry tests and a fine needle aspiration, says the American Cancer Society. Half of individuals with renal cancer have blood in their urine which may not be visible to the naked eye, according to the American Cancer Society, and a urinalysis can detect this factor. A CBC and blood chemistry tests detect abnormal blood counts, anemia, and elevated liver enzymes, all of which can be symptomatic of kidney cancer. Although fine needle aspiration is not typically done to diagnose the disease, this type of biopsy can be helpful in confirming the diagnosis.
