Diagnostic Tests
In addition to taking a complete medical history and performing a physical exam, your doctor will likely recommend blood and urine tests. If your doctor suspects a problem or if you are at high risk of kidney cancer, you may also have one or more of the following tests to check for growths or tumors:
Ultrasound Examination
An ultrasound isn’t an X-ray. Instead, it uses high-frequency sound waves to generate images of your internal organs, such as your kidneys and bladder, on a computer screen.
Computerized Tomography (CT) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Scan
CT scans use computers to create more detailed images than those produced by conventional X-rays. MRI scans use magnetic fields and radio waves to generate cross-sectional pictures of your body.
Biopsy
In this test, a sample of tissue is removed and examined under a microscope. It’s the only way to confirm the presence of cancer. Biopsies are commonly performed on tumors that develop in a ureter or in the kidney pelvis - the area at the center of the kidneys where urine collects. A solid kidney tumor, on the other hand, is often removed without a biopsy because these tumors are almost always cancerous and because a biopsy may spread cancer cells outside the biopsied kidney.
Tests to Determine whether Cancer has Spread
If your doctor finds signs of kidney cancer, the next step is to determine whether the cancer has spread. This usually means more tests, including additional blood tests, an ultrasound of your liver, a CT scan, a chest X-ray or a bone scan. A bone scan is a test in which you’re given a small amount of a radioactive material that’s then taken up by your bones. Tumors absorb even more of this material and show up as a black area when a special camera scans your body.
Second Opinions
If you’ve received a diagnosis of kidney cancer, you may want to seek a second opinion. Sometimes your insurance company may even require you to do so. In that case, your current doctor may be able to recommend other specialists. In addition, the Cancer Information Service at (800) 4-CANCER, or (800) 422-6237, can provide information on treatment centers. You can also get a list of doctors from your local hospital or a nearby medical school.