What is a kidney tumor?
A kidney tumor is an abnormal growth within the kidney. The terms “mass,” “lesion” and “tumor” are often used interchangeably. Tumors may be benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous). The most common kidney lesion is a fluid-filled area called a cyst. Simple cysts are benign and have a typical appearance on imaging studies. They do not progress to cancer and usually require no followup or treatment. Solid kidney tumors can be benign, but are cancerous more than 90 percent of the time. What are some facts about kidney cancer? In the United States, 2 percent of all cancers arise from the kidney. Each year, kidney cancer is diagnosed in approximately 38,000 Americans and is the cause of death in nearly 12,000 Americans. Kidney cancer is slightly more common in males and is usually diagnosed between the ages of 50 and 70 years. The most common kidney cancer is called renal cell carcinoma. What risk factors are associated with kidney cancer? The following associations may increase the
