Renal Medullary Carcinoma Diagnosis & Testing

How Is Renal Medullary Carcinoma (RMC) Diagnosed?

Diagnosing renal medullary carcinoma involves evaluating symptoms and performing specific tests, such as:

Physical Exam: Assesses overall health and symptoms, including checking for lumps or swelling in the abdomen
Urinalysis: Detects 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: Assesses 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 not always necessary if imaging strongly suggests RMC
Genetic Testing: Evaluates for sickle cell trait (SCT), a common factor in RMC development

Renal Medullary Carcinoma Diagnosis & Testing Programs

These programs help you understand your diagnosis, and how testing can identify the stage of disease and predict how well treatment may work for you.

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Tools to help you feel activated and connect with resources to overcome barriers to accessing care.

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