Guide To The Major Types Of Kidney Cancer And Tumors

Angiomyolipoma

Angiomyolipomas, which are often connected to a genetic condition known as tuberous sclerosis, are benign kidney tumors. Symptoms do not always appear when patients have an angiomyolipoma. However, when they do, they can include sudden back or flank pain, vomiting, nausea, anemia, shock, hypertension, and chronic kidney disease. Doctors often diagnose these tumors through magnetic resonance imaging, computerized tomography scans, and ultrasounds. They are often found when these imaging tests are used for other reasons.

Treatment for these tumors includes the medication everolimus, an immunosuppressant, and embolization. Angiomyolipoma treatment is taken seriously. This is because patients with these tumors have several risk factors for future cases of kidney cancer, including kidney disease, hypertension, and the underlying genetic condition called tuberous sclerosis.

Renal Adenoma

A renal adenoma is one of the most common benign kidney tumors, though they are not common in the overall population. In most cases, these tumors are no larger than two to three centimeters in size. Symptoms can be nonspecific, and may not always appear, though they can include high blood pressure, weakness, low potassium, high blood sugar, bruising, excessive hair growth, and abnormal weight gain or loss.

The cause of these tumors is largely unclear, but many professionals believe that genetic conditions, such as multiple endocrine neoplasia, type 1, are involved. Unfortunately, it is difficult to differentiate renal adenomas from cancerous tumors. Thus, diagnosis and treatment are vital. In the majority of cases, surgical excision is the only effective method of both diagnosing and treating renal adenomas.