A renal mass can be benign or malignant and is often diagnosed during imaging studies for kidney problems. Treatment options include surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. Benign masses may still require monitoring and can cause health problems. In severe cases, dialysis or a kidney transplant may be necessary.
A renal mass is a growth on or in the kidney. Such masses are often diagnosed during x-ray examination of the kidneys or surrounding area, which can be done for a variety of reasons. When a kidney mass is identified, it is important to evaluate it to determine if further medical measures need to be taken. Such masses can be benign or malignant, and there are a number of treatment options available to address them.
Sometimes symptoms of kidney problems lead a doctor to order an ultrasound or similar medical imaging study of the kidneys to look for abnormalities. These symptoms may include difficulty urinating, frequent urination, tenderness in the abdomen, and blood electrolyte imbalances. In these cases, a mass will appear during the imaging study and can be seen very clearly with studies such as MRI. In other cases, the mass is identified during a study for unrelated reasons in which renal abnormalities are observed by the radiologist.
A mass on the kidney can take the form of a cyst, in which case it’s usually filled with fluid and may contain debris, or it can be a solid growth. Benign tumors sometimes occur in the kidneys, but a solid growth is more commonly a sign of a malignant tumor that should be addressed. If the imaging study suggests the mass is solid, a doctor may recommend a biopsy to take a sample of the mass for analysis in a pathology laboratory. The analysis can be used to determine which cell types are involved in the mass.
A cancerous kidney mass usually needs to be removed. Removal of the entire kidney may be recommended, or an operation that preserves part of the kidney may be possible, depending on the size and location of the mass. Additional treatments such as radiation and chemotherapy can be used to kill the malignant cells in the hope that the mass will not recur after these treatments.
If the kidney mass appears to be benign, a doctor may recommend monitoring the mass. Benign masses can still interfere with kidney function and cause other health problems, which can make them a cause for concern. Ultimately, a patient may require dialysis or a kidney transplant to replace a failing kidney if the mass becomes large enough or affects a key area of the kidneys.
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