Renal Tumor

About Renal Tumors

Renal tumors are conditions that are often discovered incidentally during ultrasound or CT examinations as part of a routine health check-up.

The kidney can develop fluid-filled sac-like structures called renal cysts. Most are benign changes associated with aging and are monitored with watchful waiting, but some lesions require differentiation from malignant tumors.

Among the malignant tumors requiring attention, the most representative is renal cell carcinoma. Differentiating it from angiomyolipoma (AML), which is generally benign, is also important.

In most cases there are few, if any, noticeable symptoms, but the tumor may sometimes be discovered because of:

Hematuria (blood in the urine)
Low back pain
Abdominal discomfort

These and other symptoms can sometimes lead to detection of the tumor.

In addition, renal pelvis cancer and metastatic renal tumors from other organs must also be considered.

Early detection of renal tumors can expand the range of treatment options, which is why regular imaging examinations are important.

At our clinic, we work to achieve early detection through precise imaging diagnosis, combining whole-body MRI (DWIBS), CT, MRI, and ultrasound.

Diagnostic Tests for Renal Cancer

Diagnosis of renal cancer is primarily performed using contrast-enhanced CT and MRI.

This allows us to evaluate:

Tumor size
Shape
Internal structure
Blood flow pattern (enhancement pattern)
Positional relationship with surrounding organs

and other factors in detail.

We also comprehensively assess:

Whether the tumor is benign or malignant
The tumor's characteristics
The degree of progression

based on these findings.

When necessary, we add:

Ultrasound examination
Blood tests (including renal function evaluation)
Pathological examination (biopsy)

to reach a final diagnosis.

At our clinic, physicians specializing in diagnostic imaging evaluate the examination results in detail and propose a treatment plan tailored to each individual patient.

Treatment for Renal Cancer

IVR Treatment for Malignant Renal Tumors (Renal Cell Carcinoma / Metastatic Renal Cancer)

The standard treatment for renal cell carcinoma is surgery, and in accordance with clinical guidelines, the treatment plan is determined based on:

Tumor size
Extent of disease
Presence of metastasis
Overall physical condition

These factors together determine the treatment plan.

In general, treatment options include:

Radical nephrectomy
Partial nephrectomy

and in advanced cases, multidisciplinary treatment including drug therapy is provided.

On the other hand, for patients who are:

Of advanced age
Living with comorbidities
At high risk from general anesthesia
In need of renal function preservation

for such patients, minimally invasive treatment that reduces the burden on the body becomes important.

At our clinic, we actively perform local treatment using IVR (image-guided therapy) for such cases.

IVR may be indicated in the following cases:

Patients for whom surgery carries a high risk due to advanced age or comorbidities
Patients who wish to avoid the burden of general anesthesia
Patients for whom preserving renal function is important
Patients who prefer a minimally invasive treatment other than surgery

RFA Combined with TAE

At our clinic, we perform IVR treatment that combines:

Radiofrequency ablation (RFA)
Transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE)

as a single treatment approach.

RFA is a treatment in which a needle is inserted into the tumor and the lesion is ablated using heat.

Furthermore, combining this with TAE

Control of blood flow to the tumor
Improved heat efficiency
Enhanced local control

is expected to provide these benefits.

At our clinic, we carefully plan treatment strategies by appropriately combining these approaches according to the tumor's location and size and the patient's overall condition.

In addition, IVR treatments such as TAE and RFA may also be effective options for adrenal tumors adjacent to the kidney.

This is particularly true for:

Cases where surgical invasiveness should be minimized
Cases requiring special consideration for overall condition

in which minimally invasive IVR treatment may play an important role.

Renal cell carcinoma measuring up to 4.5 cm in the right kidney (circled)

First, catheter treatment is used to embolize the tumor's feeding blood vessels

The patient is then placed prone, and RFA is performed via CT-guided puncture from the back

The renal cancer achieved complete necrosis (CR) with no recurrence for 5 years; the kidney was preserved.

About Multiple Renal Cysts and Liver Cysts

What Are Multiple Renal Cysts and Liver Cysts?

Fluid-filled sac-like structures that form in the kidneys or liver are called cysts.

Solitary cysts are commonly seen with aging and are generally asymptomatic, typically managed with watchful waiting.

On the other hand, when numerous cysts are present—known as multiple cysts—the following may occur:

Organ enlargement
Abdominal bloating
Symptoms of compression
Pain

among other symptoms.

In particular, polycystic kidney disease (PKD) may be accompanied by a decline in renal function and requires careful management.

General Treatment

Treatment for multiple renal cysts and liver cysts is determined based on the presence and severity of symptoms.

When asymptomatic	When symptomatic
Watchful waiting	Cyst puncture and drainage Sclerotherapy (e.g., ethanol) Surgical treatment (e.g., fenestration)

However, with multiple cysts, the following challenges arise:

Numerous cysts are present
Recurrence is common
Surgical invasiveness is significant

which make treatment more difficult.

For this reason, minimally invasive treatment that can address multiple lesions while minimizing the burden on the body becomes important.

Our Clinic's Treatment for Multiple Renal Cysts and Liver Cysts

Renal cysts are often asymptomatic and managed with watchful waiting, but liver cysts can cause symptoms as they increase in size.

At YASUMOTO IVR Clinic, for such cases, we perform

Image-Guided Percutaneous Puncture Drainage (IVR)

as our treatment approach.

In this treatment,

The position is confirmed using imaging
A fine needle or catheter is inserted into the cyst
The fluid contents are drained

through these steps.

When necessary, sclerotherapy (a recurrence-prevention treatment) is combined to help suppress recurrence.

Giant liver cyst
Before treatment (compressing the stomach)

A thin tube is inserted,
draining the accumulated fluid into a bag

Features of Drainage Treatment

Only a skin puncture is required (minimally invasive)
Physical burden is low
Improvement in abdominal bloating and feelings of pressure can be expected
Can be performed on a same-day or short-stay inpatient basis

By relieving symptoms caused by the cysts, this treatment is expected to improve quality of life (QOL).

Please Consult Us If You Have Any of the Following

Patients with abdominal bloating or a feeling of pressure due to multiple liver cysts
Patients whose cysts are large enough to interfere with daily life
Patients on renal dialysis who experience severe abdominal bloating that makes eating difficult
Patients who prefer minimally invasive treatment other than surgery
Patients who have received treatment at another hospital but whose cysts have not decreased in size
Patients who are under observation but have ongoing symptoms and feel anxious

At YASUMOTO IVR Clinic, our IVR specialists propose treatments tailored to each patient's condition based on diagnostic imaging.

Please feel free to contact us with any questions.