Renal Cell Carcinoma Diagnosis & Testing

How is Renal Cell Carcinoma (RCC) Diagnosed?

Diagnosing renal cell carcinoma involves evaluating symptoms and conducting specific tests, such as:

Physical Exam: Assesses of overall health and symptoms, including checking for lumps or swelling in the abdomen
Urinalysis: Checks for blood or abnormal substances in the urine
Blood Tests: Evaluates kidney function and detects markers like elevated calcium or anemia
Imaging Tests:
- CT Scan or MRI: Helps assess tumor size, location, and possible spread
- Ultrasound: Uses sound waves to detect kidney abnormalities
- PET (Positron Emission Tomography) Scan: Uses a special dye with radioactive tracers to detect cancer spread
- X-ray or Bone Scan: Evaluates whether cancer has spread to bones
Biopsy: A tissue sample may be taken for laboratory analysis, though it is not always necessary if imaging strongly suggests RCC

Renal Cell Carcinoma Staging and Grading

RCC Staging

When diagnosed with renal cell carcinoma (RCC), it’s crucial to understand the stage and grade of the cancer:

Stage I: The cancer is small and limited to the kidney
Stage II: The cancer is slightly larger but still confined to the kidney
Stage III: The cancer is more advanced and may have spread to nearby lymph nodes
Stage IV: The cancer has spread beyond the kidney to distant areas.

RCC Grading

The RCC grading system is based on how cancer cells look under a microscope and how aggressively they are likely to grow:

Grade 1: Cells appear close to normal and indicate a slower-growing cancer
Grade 2: Cells have more abnormalities than Grade 1 but still suggest a relatively slow-growing cancer
Grade 3: Cells look very abnormal and indicate a faster-growing, more aggressive cancer
Grade 4: Cells are highly abnormal with large, prominent nucleoli and are more likely to spread

Essential Renal Cell Carcinoma Testing

Key Tests

After diagnosis, additional tests may help guide treatment planning, including:

Biomarker Testing: Identifies mutations that may influence treatment options
Molecular Profiling: Detects biomarkers to determine the suitability for targeted therapies
Bone Scan or Additional Imaging: Assesses whether cancer has spread to bones or other organs

RCC Biomarkers