1) Renal cell carcinomas and kidney cancers account for about 3% of cancer cases and deaths in the US each year, with over 38,000 new diagnoses and 12,000 deaths expected in 2006 and $1.9 billion spent annually on treatment.
2) The majority of kidney tumors arise from the renal parenchyma and are known as renal cell tumors. A smaller number arise from other parts of the kidney. Benign renal tumors include oncocytoma and papillary adenoma.
3) Malignant renal cell tumors occur more often in men and generally affect those over age 40, with clear cell histology being the most common subtype. Common symptoms include hematuria, flank mass, and