A 48-year-old member asked:
How big is a cyst when it becomes a mass in or on the kidney in renal cell carcinoma?
2 doctor answers • 3 doctors weighed in
Dr. Mark Hoepfneranswered
Surgery 41 years experience
Not size: Size is not the issue here. A cyst on the kidney is a very common benign finding, can be small or large, & does not lead to cancer. A renal cell carcinoma is a solid mass, not a cyst, and could be any size from very small to large.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Richard Linkanswered
Urology 26 years experience
How it looks: Renal cysts lie on a spectrum from completely benign to cystic kidney cancer. Size is not a real determinant of risk. The features of the cyst on imaging, including whether there are nodular, solid parts or areas that take up the radiographic contrast are important for determining risk. The radiologist / urologist can give you a score (bozniak score) that will give you an estimate of cancer risk.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Last updated Jul 15, 2013
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