Kidney Cancer Diagnosis

At MD Anderson, our experts specialize in kidney cancer and use the very latest technology to pinpoint the exact extent and location of each kidney tumor.

Most tumors of the kidney are malignant (cancer), but some are benign (not cancer). There is no imaging test that can reliably tell if a kidney tumor is benign or cancerous. If you have been diagnosed with a kidney tumor or kidney cancer, it’s important to seek treatment as early as possible.

Kidney cancer diagnosis

If you have symptoms that signal kidney cancer, your doctor will ask you questions about your health; your lifestyle, including smoking and drinking habits; your family medical history; and questions related kidney cancer symptoms. Your doctor will then order tests to diagnose the problem.

These tests may include:

Blood and urine tests: There is no blood or urine test that can conclusively diagnose someone with kidney cancer. These tests can help doctors diagnose or rule out other possible causes for your symptoms, as well as indicate that kidney cancer may be present.

Imaging tests: These exams will focus on the kidneys and possibly parts of the body kidney cancer frequently spreads to, including the lungs, bones and, less often, the brain and spine. Imaging exams may include:

• CT or CAT (computed axial tomography) scans. This is the most common imaging exam for kidney cancer.
• MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scans.
• Ultrasound
• Chest X-Ray
• Bone Scan

Biopsy: A biopsy is the removal of a very small piece of suspected cancer tissue for examination under a microscope. This is the only way to definitively diagnose kidney cancer prior to surgery. The tissue is typically retrieved by an interventional radiologist, who uses imaging technology to help guide a long, thin needle to the suspected tumor. This is a minimally invasive procedure.