Renal masses / Renal cancer

What are the common causes of renal masses?
  • Simple renal cysts: Most common in patients over 50 years of age. These cysts are typically asymptomatic.
  • Polycystic kidney disease: A positive test requires:
    • in patients younger than 30 years of age, at least two cysts (unilateral or bilateral)
    • in patients 30-59 at least two cysts in each kidney
    • in patients over 60, four or more cysts
  • Abscess
  • Renal cell carcinoma
The surgical specimen consists of a whole kidney and attached ureter (B). There is a large, irregular carcinoma (A) in the superior pole of the kidney.
Normal kidney