Kidney cancer diagnosis and staging

Kidney cancer doesn’t usually have obvious symptoms in the early stages. It’s often found during a routine physical exam to check your overall health. It may be discovered while you’re having an imaging test like an ultrasound, CT scan, or MRI for another reason. Sometimes, kidney cancer is found because you’re having symptoms like blood in the urine, pain in the side, or unexplained weight loss.

Navigating kidney cancer can be challenging. But getting a quick, accurate diagnosis can help you get answers fast and start treatment when it’s most effective.

Health care providers use screening tests to find some types of cancer early. Currently, there’s no routine screening for kidney cancer. But if you have a family history of kidney cancer or several risk factors, you should speak with your physician about a genetic cancer risk evaluation to screen for kidney cancer.

Our genetic counselors can help assess your family history and uncover any unusual risks. Together, this information can help you make more informed care decisions.

When you choose Penn Medicine for your care, you’ll benefit from a team of cancer specialists. This team includes urologists, interventional radiologists, surgeons, and pathologists—all working together to provide a treatment plan that’s right for you.

You’ll also benefit from:

• Timely diagnoses: Our highly trained doctors and advanced practice providers (APPs) are leaders in urologic cancer care who can pinpoint an accurate diagnosis quickly. They stay current with the latest kidney cancer advances and help improve patient care through research. They also help prevent delays by helping you understand and receive the tests you need. 
• Dedicated GU cancer pathologists and radiologists: Certain lab and imaging tests are critical for an accurate and detailed diagnosis. Our pathologists and radiologists oversee and analyze these tests, including kidney biopsies and kidney CT scans. Because they specialize in kidney cancer, they catch things others may miss. Their expertise leads to more effective treatment plans. 
• Comprehensive kidney cancer treatment: As a large urologic cancer program, we can offer advanced treatments that aren’t available elsewhere. Our kidney cancer experts meet regularly to talk through challenging cases and create treatment plans that consider every possible angle.