CT of the kidneys: What size are renal cell carcinomas when they cause symptoms or signs?

Abstract

Objective. To investigate the size of renal cell carcinomas (RCCs) when they cause macroscopic hematuria or other symptoms and/or signs. Material and methods. A retrospective review of 232 patients (136 males, 96 females; mean age 68±11 years; age range 40–90 years) with a diagnosis of RCC was undertaken. Patients were grouped according to the presenting symptoms and/or signs caused by the RCCs. Tumor size was measured on CT images. Results. Of the RCCs, 29% were found incidentally and 71% caused symptoms and/or signs. The incidentally found RCCs measured 4.9±2.6 cm (range 2–12 cm) and RCCs causing symptoms and signs measured 8.9±3.2 cm (range 3–18 cm); this size difference was significant (p<0.001). None of the RCCs causing macroscopic hematuria were <4 cm in size and only 3/165 (2%) of the symptomatic RCCs were <4 cm in size. Discussion. If small (<4 cm) RCCs do not cause symptoms, patients with them will not be referred for CT or any other imaging modality. Therefore, if a 2-cm RCC is found in a patient presenting with macroscopic hematuria, it is unlikely that this small RCC caused the hematuria and another cause of the hematuria must be ruled out.

• Renal cell carcinoma
• symptoms and signs
• hematuria
• incidental discovery
• CT