Once a cancer is diagnosed, the tumor needs to be carefully staged for determine the most appropriate treatments.
Going through the diagnostic process can be stressfulyou may feel fear and anxiety.
Get our printable guide for your next doctor’s appointment to help you ask the right questions.
Illustration by Verywell
An exam also includes an evaluation of the genitalia in males.
Kidney function tests are also important, although these may be normal.
A CT scan is usually done first without contrast, and then with a radiocontrast dye.
Get our printable guide for your next doctor’s appointment to help you ask the right questions.
MRI Scan
AnMRI scanuses magnetic imaging instead of X-ray technology to create a picture of structures in the abdomen.
In it particularly helpful for defining “soft tissue” abnormalities.
Differential Diagnosis
Unlike many cancers, there are relatively few causes of a mass in the kidney.
Illustration by Verywell
TNM Staging
Kidney tumors are also evaluated using something called the TNM system.
All the diagnostic tests performed will help your healthcare provider accurately stage your tumor.
Based on the results, he or she will be better able to choose atreatmenttailored to your situation.
Frequently Asked Questions
No.
A blood test cant be used to diagnose kidney cancer.
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