Renal Cell Carcinoma Medical Tests & Diagnosis Methods

Conditions & Diseases: Cancers

Renal Cell Carcinoma

Medical Tests and Diagnosis

Anamnesis (detailed medical review of past health state):

One of the first steps in establishing a renal cell carcinoma diagnosis is a detailed and complex medical review of a patient's past health problems and general health state, family medical history, kidney cancer risk factors, and symptoms.

Physical examination:
During a physical examination, the doctor looks for noticeable signs of the kidney cancer such as the high body temperature, high blood pressure, the presence of any large tumor in the abdominal cavity.

Laboratory tests

Urine tests: These set of tests check for several indicators of the cancer such as blood, sugar, proteins, and bacteria.
Blood tests: These set of tests measure the amount of several kidney cancer indicators, (red blood cells and creatinine).

Imaging techniques

Computed tomography (CT): This imaging test is similar with an x-ray test, and creates a detailed cross-sectional image of the body.
A CT scan is usually performed in two steps for a better diagnoses outcome:
1). First, the targeted area is scanned without a contrast agent.
2). Second, the targeted area is scanned after a contrast agent was administrated.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI): This imaging technique is a highly specialized scan that uses radio waves and strong magnets to reveal a complete image of the kidneys. The energy from the radio waves is absorbed by the tissues and then revealed into a recognizable pattern on a special monitor.
Positron Emission Tomography (PET scan): This is a very specialized imaging technique that provides useful information about the tumor location and how far the cancer has spread. The Pet scan uses radioactive glucose to locate the cancer, because the cancerous cells absorb a higher amount of this substance than normal tissues.
Bone scan: This is an imaging technique used to detect whether or not the cancer spread to the bones. During this test, the patient receives an injection with a radioactive agent that travels throughout the body and collects in areas where cancerous cells have been collected.
Ultrasonography: Ultrasound imaging is a medical technique that uses high-frequency sound waves to create an interior image of the body on a special computer screen. During an ultrasound, the doctor examines the kidneys, ureters, and the bladder. This image is formed from the echoes of the sound waves on the surface of the organs. Abnormal tissue masses and organs reflect sound waves differently. This test involves a device called transducer, that is placed on the upper part of the abdomen, and a computer that translates this sound into an image. Ultrasound imaging is a safe, noninvasive and brief test that can detect liver tumors.
Intravenous pyelogram (IVP): This is an x-ray test that provides images of the urinary tract (the kidneys, bladder, ureters, and urethra). IVP shows the shape, size and position of the urinary tract, can evaluate the collecting system inside the kidneys, and can show any abnormal mass that has developed within the kidneys. During this test, the patient receives, through an injection in the arm vein, a dye substance that travels throughout the body and collects in the kidneys.
Chest x-ray: An x-ray test uses high energy electromagnetic radiation to penetrate the body and creates the inside image on a film. The chest x-ray can reveal tumors of the kidneys, provides useful information on the general health state of the kidneys, and determines whether or not the cancer has spread to other organs.
Angiography: This imaging technique is similar with a CT scan, and is used to examine the blood vessels. In kidney cancer patients, the doctor administrates a contrast agent into an artery (usually renal artery) that carries the blood to the kidneys. This contrast agent is absorbed by the cancerous cells and displayed on an angiogram.
Biopsy: This is one of the most effective diagnosis procedures which confirms if the tumor or abnormal growth is a malignant tissue or not. A biopsy is a medical procedure where a sample of tissue is removed from the target area.
A tissue sample can be removed by::
- Fine needle aspiration. This procedure involves taking a sample of tissue from the tumor by using a thin needle attached to a syringe. Fine needle aspiration is performed only if the tumor can be easy reached. This procedure is usually performed during an ultrasound or CT scan that guides the needle. In kidney cancer patients, fine needle aspiration is the most used procedure of removing a sample of tissue.
- Core needle biopsy. This procedure is performed under local anesthesia and involves removing a small cylinder of tumor tissue.

Article by Alina Morrow, MS
Medical Writer
OmniMedicalSearch.com