Kidney Cancer
The kidneys are organs
that filter blood and rid the body of liquid waste. This waste,
in the form of urine, leaves the kidneys through a thin tube
called a ureter that connects to the bladder.
The kidneys are located just to the left and to the right
of the backbone. It is possible to survive with less than
even one complete kidney. And people without any working kidneys
can survive through regular dialysis, a treatment that removes
waste and excess fluid from the blood.
Types and Characteristics
Renal cell cancer accounts for more than 90 percent of cancerous
kidney tumors. There are five main types of renal cell cancer
including clear cell, papillary, chromophobe, collecting duct
and unclassified cancers. The clear cell type is the most
common renal cell cancer, accounting for approximately 80
percent of cases.
An important consideration in kidney cancer is the grade of
the cancer. This can range from 1 to 4 with the lower number
looking more like normal cells and offering a better outlook
for patients and a higher number looking markedly different
from normal cells and indicating a worse outlook for patients.
Treatment Options
Washington University urologic surgeons perform radical and
partial nephrectomy (kidney removal). They also perform laparoscopic
radical nephrectomy and are investigating several new
treatments for kidney cancer including cryoablation (a procedure
in which the tumor is frozen to ensure destruction).
Washington University School of Medicine was the site of the
first laparoscopic nephrectomy.
For patient appointments, call
(314) 362-8200 (Center for Advanced Medicine
and Barnes-Jewish West County Hospital).
More information
about kidney cancer:
Washington University physicians are the medical staff of
Barnes-Jewish Hospital and St. Louis Children's Hospital
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