Increasingly, renal cell cancer is diagnosed because of an incidental finding of a renal mass on an imaging study. Incidentally discovered masses are more likely to be small and, if malignant, represent localized renal cell cancer. The imaging features of the tumor and patient characteristics inform the management options, which favor a nephron-sparing approach over radical nephrectomy. Clinical stage at the time of diagnosis has important prognostic implications for the patient. This article reviews the presentation, diagnostic evaluation, and management of an incidentally discovered renal mass.
JAAPA : official journal of the American Academy of Physician Assistants. 2018 Jan 08 [Epub ahead of print]
Brenda L Quincy, Lori Fauquher
Brenda L. Quincy is an associate professor in the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences at Butler University in Indianapolis, Ind. Lori Fauquher is an assistant professor in the PA program at Butler University and practices at Central Indiana Orthopedics in Muncie, Ind. The authors have disclosed no potential conflicts of interest, financial or otherwise.