The classic presentation of renal cell carcinoma (hypernephroma) is the triad of
- flank pain
- haematuria
- flank mass
However, just 10% of patients with RCC present with these symptoms and 40% have none of them at all!
Other presentations include:
- weight loss (30%)
- fever (20%)
- hypertension (20%)
- hypercalcaemia (5%)
Occasionally they may be associated with a left varicocele.
Renal cell carcinomas may also produce erythropoeitin, resulting in secondary polycythaemia.
Most RCC are sporadic; a minority are familial, for example associated with Von Hippel Lindau.
Treatment is surgical.
