Pathology and staging of kidney cancer

Pathology refers to the careful examination of tissue under a microscope in order to find out whether it's cancerous or non-cancerous and to determine the type of tumour it is. Different types of tumours can affect the kidney.

Benign tumours and conditions

Benign tumours and conditions are non-cancerous growths that do not spread to other parts of the body and are not usually life-threatening:

• simple kidney cysts
• renal adenomas
• oncocytoma
• angiomyolipoma
• rare benign tumours

Malignant tumours

Malignant tumours are cancerous growths that have the potential to metastasize (spread to other parts of the body):

• renal cell carcinoma
• rare malignant tumours
  • renal sarcoma
  • adult Wilms’ tumour
  • medullary carcinoma
  • small cell carcinoma
  • carcinoid tumours
  • transitional cell tumours of the renal pelvis and ureter – these cancers are similar to bladder cancer

Once the type of tumour has been diagnosed, the doctor will also consider:

• the grade of the tumour (how abnormal the cancer cells look and behave)
• the stage of the cancer (how far the cancer has progressed) and if it has spread
• the progression of the cancer (where it has spread)
• prognostic factors (special characteristics that might influence the course of the disease)
• survival statistics for the particular type and stage of cancer

All of this information helps the doctor make a treatment plan.

See a list of questions to ask your doctor about pathology and staging.