Is nephroblastoma a type of kidney cancer?

Written by Li Yuan Wei
Urology
Updated on April 03, 2025
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From a broad perspective, nephroblastoma belongs to kidney cancer, but its characteristics are still different. Nephroblastoma, also known as Wilms' tumor or embryonal tumor of the kidney, is the most common malignant kidney tumor in children, generally 80% of cases occur before the age of five, with an average age of about 3.5 years. The main manifestation is an abdominal mass, most often incidentally discovered by parents or doctors. Diagnosis is generally made through renal ultrasound as an initial screening, while renal CT and MRI can clearly show the extent of the tumor and the surrounding lymph nodes and organs, and whether renal blood vessels are involved. Chest X-rays or CT scans can determine if there are any lung metastases.

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Can kidney cancer be cured?

Kidney cancer, if detected early and treated effectively, can potentially have favorable outcomes. However, early-stage kidney cancer often lacks distinct symptoms, leading to misdiagnosis. Symptoms such as hematuria, pain, and palpable masses typically indicate an advanced stage. Therefore, any of these symptoms should be taken seriously. Urine cytology, blood biochemical tests, and ultrasound are quite sensitive for the detection of renal tumors. X-ray images may show a prominent localized contour of the kidney with speckled or incomplete shell-like calcifications. Excretory or retrograde pyelography can reveal compression of the renal pelvis and calyces, showing irregular deformations and possibly filling defects. If necessary, isotope scanning, percutaneous renal biopsy, or fine needle aspiration cytology may be conducted.

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How many centimeters is kidney cancer in the early stage?

Generally speaking, kidney cancers smaller than 4 centimeters are usually considered early stage, but it still depends on individual circumstances, such as whether the tumor has spread or metastasized, and the malignancy level of the tumor cells. Thus, assessing whether it is early or advanced stage requires consideration of these specific factors, and it cannot be simply determined by size alone.

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Can renal cancer be detected by ultrasound?

Ultrasound is a type of imaging examination that can observe the size, shape, structure, texture, and the presence of masses in the organs being examined. It can be used to determine if a patient potentially has kidney-related masses, such as differentiating between a kidney cyst and kidney cancer based on differences in shape and blood supply that malignant tumors typically exhibit compared to other conditions. However, using ultrasound to diagnose kidney cancer can be inaccurate, particularly in the early stages of the disease when ultrasound may not provide a clear view, and some complex cases of kidney cancer may still be indeterminate. Therefore, patients might consider undergoing an enhanced CT scan, which offers a higher diagnostic accuracy. Additionally, a kidney biopsy and pathological examination might be necessary for a definitive diagnosis.

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How long does it take for kidney cancer to progress from early to late stage?

It will likely take about two years. Kidney cancer is a malignant tumor with a relatively high degree of malignancy, and its prognosis is closely related to its specific pathological staging. Therefore, it is not possible to accurately judge this time frame as it relates to individual differences in tumors and the degree of malignancy. Timely detection and standard treatment are crucial. The first choice is surgical treatment, which should be followed by immunotherapy and targeted therapy to prevent and reduce the possibility of postoperative recurrence and metastasis. If controlled effectively, early cure is possible, and the survival period in the middle and late stages can be significantly extended. Early treatment primarily involves surgical operations, which can be complemented by traditional Chinese medicine to reduce the risk of recurrence.

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What are the common symptoms of kidney cancer?

Kidney cancer is a malignant tumor of the renal parenchymal tissue. Some patients do not have specific symptoms, especially in the early stages. As the disease progresses, patients may find a mass in the abdomen. Some patients may experience back pain due to the enlargement of the kidney pressing against the renal capsule. Some patients experience bleeding due to the gradual rupture of the tumor, causing visible blood in the urine, which sometimes appears as painless throughout the blood in the urine. These symptoms may indicate the presence of a malignant tumor in the kidney, and diagnosis needs to be confirmed through ultrasound and CT scans.