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Uro-on­co­lo­gy cent­re for pro­sta­te and kid­ney

Übersicht & Kontakt Team Diseases Services Publications
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Kid­ney can­cer

Kid­ney can­cer de­ve­lops when cel­ls in a kid­ney be­gin to mul­ti­ply un­con­troll­ab­ly, grow into the sur­roun­ding tis­sue and de­stroy it. Kid­ney can­cer of­ten only be­co­mes no­ti­ce­ab­le with sym­ptoms at an ad­van­ced sta­ge of the di­se­a­se. This is why the di­se­a­se re­mains un­de­tec­ted for a long time. In most ca­ses, the dia­gno­sis is an in­ci­den­tal fin­ding, for ex­amp­le du­ring an ul­tra­sound scan.
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Renal cell carcinoma or hypernephroma accounts for around 2% of all malignant diseases in Europe and particularly affects people between the ages of 50 and 70. Men are affected about twice as often as women.

Risk fac­tors

Risk factors include smoking, obesity, high blood pressure, chronic dialysis (blood washing), chronic painkiller abuse and radiation. Hereditary forms also exist.

Sym­ptoms

The leading symptom is bloody urine. This can be accompanied by flank pain and even palpable tumours. Accompanying symptoms can be anaemia and weight loss.

Cau­ses

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Dia­gno­sis

The diagnosis is made through urine tests and, in particular, imaging procedures such as ultrasound, computer tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Further examinations can supplement the diagnosis.

  • Sonography of the kidneys
  • Cross-sectional imaging diagnostics with computer tomography or magnetic resonance tomography
  • CT angiography for special questions
  • Computed tomography and ultrasound-guided biopsy
  • Side-separated renal function scintigraphy

The­ra­py

The main treatment methods for kidney cancer are surgery, minimally invasive procedures (e.g. treatment with heat or cold) and drug therapies. The most important and decisive procedure for the treatment of kidney cancer is surgery. Either the entire kidney affected by the cancer or part of the kidney is removed.

In the early stages and sometimes also in cases where the disease has already spread, the kidney tumour is surgically removed. If metastases are already detectable, systemic medication is often used as the disease progresses.

Drug treatment
In recent years, several drugs have come onto the market that can inhibit the growth of renal cell carcinoma by blocking the cell information system or the blood and nutrient supply. These drugs are usually taken in tablet form. However, some are also administered as infusions or injections.

Outpatient treatment
The majority of systemic therapies for renal cell carcinoma are carried out on an outpatient basis.

  • Active surveillance: Patients are monitored closely. Active treatment (e.g. surgery) is only started if the patient so wishes or if the tumour continues to grow. This treatment strategy can be used for certain small tumours that are considered low-risk.
  • Open partial kidney resection
  • Robot-assisted partial kidney resection (DaVinci Xi)
  • Laparoscopic kidney removal
  • Open kidney removal
  • Microwave ablation of the renal tumour after renal tumour biopsy

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