“Kidney Tumor ”
My father is 85 years old. In 2015, a scan revealed that he had a 2.5cm cyst on his right kidney. Since then, he had yearly scans done to monitor the growth. Thankfully, it did not grow. However, during the pandemic (2 years), he did not have any scans done. Two months ago, he had an ultrasound done and it revealed a 9cm mass on his right kidney. A month later, he had a CT scan done, and it had grown to 11cm. The tumor is contained, it has not spread to any other organs. He does not have any symptoms, but a blood test revealed hematuria (microscopic). The oncologist told us that he is 90% certain that the tumor is malignant. We are confused. How could he have a cyst/tumor on his kidney for more than seven years, and it has not spread to other organs, with it being so large. We asked the doctor if there is a chance it could be benign (oncocytoma). But he is not too confident that it is. My father will be having a biopsy done to confirm if the tumor is malignant or benign. If it is benign, will his only treatment option be removal of the kidney or tumor, or will cryoablation also be an option? Thank you.
Male | 85 years old
2 Answers
Thanks for your question. I agree with the biopsy given the tumor's rapid growth which makes malignancy suspicious. He would need to determine if surgery is feasible with a local urologist. In regards to cryoablation, often the procedure is reserved for renal much smaller, i.e., < 4 cm diameter. Further discussion based on the results of above with his healthcare team.
Hello,
You are asking about the origin of a kidney mass in your father, an 85 year old man.
The mass was apparently stable for several years, but recently has been growing. A biopsy is scheduled to determine if this lesion is malignant.
I agree with the recommendation for a biopsy. Until the tissue is obtained there is no way to know if there is a malignancy associated with the lesion. Treatment decisions and recommendations depend on the biopsy results. Resection is usually recommended if cancer is found at the biopsy. Benign findings depend on the overall condition of the patient. If he is having pain, resection may be recommended for palliation. Otherwise continued follow up may be recommended.
Cryoablation, freezing the tumor, may be considered as a research approach at designated centers. It isn’t considered a standard approach.
Good luck.
You are asking about the origin of a kidney mass in your father, an 85 year old man.
The mass was apparently stable for several years, but recently has been growing. A biopsy is scheduled to determine if this lesion is malignant.
I agree with the recommendation for a biopsy. Until the tissue is obtained there is no way to know if there is a malignancy associated with the lesion. Treatment decisions and recommendations depend on the biopsy results. Resection is usually recommended if cancer is found at the biopsy. Benign findings depend on the overall condition of the patient. If he is having pain, resection may be recommended for palliation. Otherwise continued follow up may be recommended.
Cryoablation, freezing the tumor, may be considered as a research approach at designated centers. It isn’t considered a standard approach.
Good luck.
