Highlights & Basics
- Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) accounts for the majority (80% to 90%) of kidney cancers. Most RCCs have a clear cell histology.
- Often asymptomatic and diagnosed incidentally. Most cases are sporadic, although several hereditary clinical kidney cancer syndromes have been identified.
- Assessment of primary tumor, regional lymph nodes, distant metastasis, and classification of histologic subtypes is of paramount importance for making treatment decisions.
- Surgery for early/local disease can be curative in over 90% of patients; surveillance and/or biopsy may be the most appropriate strategy in some patients with small renal masses.
- Immunotherapies and targeted therapies have revolutionized treatment for metastatic disease, with median overall survival improving across all risk groups. Combination therapy (dual immune checkpoint inhibitors or an immune checkpoint inhibitor plus a vascular endothelial growth factor tyrosine kinase inhibitor [VEGF-TKI]) is recommended first-line.
Quick Reference
History & Exam
Key Factors
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Definition
Epidemiology
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Citations
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American College of Radiology. ACR appropriateness criteria: post-treatment follow-up and active surveillance of clinically localized renal cell carcinoma. 2021 [internet publication].[Full Text]
Rathmell WK, Rumble RB, Van Veldhuizen PJ, et al. Management of metastatic clear cell renal cell carcinoma: ASCO guideline. J Clin Oncol. 2022 Sep 1;40(25):2957-95.[Abstract][Full Text]
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