Renal Cell Carcinoma

Abstract

Each year in the United States, there are approximately 31, 900 cases of kidney and upper urinary tract cancer, resulting in more than 11, 900 deaths . These tumours account for approximately 3% of adult malignancies and occur in a male-female ratio of 1.5:1.0. They are more common among urban than rural residents. Although most cases of renal carcinoma occur in persons aged 50 to 70 years, it has been observed in children as young as 6 months of age. Between 1975 and 1995, there was a steady and significant increase in the incidence of renal carcinoma, from 2% to 4% since 19732 . Renal carcinoma was first described as early as 18263.