Renal Cell Carcinoma: Clinical Management

Kidney cancer is a form of cancer that develops when renal cortical tumor is formed in the kidneys due to uncontrollable division of healthy cells. It can be classified into several types including renal cell carcinoma (RCC), urothelial cancer, sarcoma, Wilms tumor and lymphoma. RCC is the most common type of kidney cancer that affects the adults. It develops in the proximal tubules which are a part of the filtration system of kidneys. Haematuria, malaise, tiredness, chronic pain in the back, loss of appetite and fever are some common symptoms of RCC. Factors responsible for escalating the risk of RCC include smoking, old age, hypertension and obesity. Clinical management of RCC includes several tests and procedures. Imaging tests like ultrasound, X-ray, CT and MRI are used to detect any abnormality or tumors in the kidneys. Biopsy is a diagnostic method in which a sample of cells is removed from the suspicious area of kidney to identify the signs of cancer. Treatment of RCC consists of surgical methods like metastasectomy and laparoscopic surgery, and non-surgical methods like cryoablation and radiofrequency ablation. This book contains some path-breaking studies on the clinical management of renal cell carcinoma. It will serve as a reference to a broad spectrum of readers.