Kidney cancer is a primary cancer arising from the tissue of the kidney. This is different from cancer arising from the kidney’s collecting system and ureter. Approximately 81,800 new renal cancers (52,360 men and 29,440 women) and 14,890 deaths (9,920 men and 4,970 women) occurred in the United States in 2023. Worldwide there is an estimated 440,000 new cases of kidney cancer diagnosed and 180,000 deaths.
Risk factors associated with development of RCC include:
- Smoking
- Hypertension
- Obesity
- Acquired renal cystic disease (papillary RCC most common) and CKD
- Occupational exposure (including cadmium, asbestos, and gasoline)
- Genetics (including germ line variants in VHL, MET, FH, TSC1/2, FLCN, SDHA/B/C/D, BAP1, MITF genes
Most often, kidney cancer is diagnosed incidentally in men and women who undergo abdominal imaging for an unrelated cause. Rarely patients will have symptoms like hematuria (blood in the urine) or flank pain and weight loss.
Types of Kidney Cancer
Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is the most common type of kidney cancer. Other types include papillary RCC, chromophobe RCC, medullary RCC, and collecting duct RCC. Patients can also develop sarcomas in the kidney.
Treatment Options
Surgery is considered the gold standard for kidney cancer. Biopsies are rarely performed due to poor tissue yield and potential for tumor seeding, particularly in cystic tumors. Additionally, kidney cancer does not respond to chemotherapy or radiation. Surgery can be performed minimally invasively using robotic technology. In a robotic nephrectomy, small incisions are made in the abdomen and robotic instruments are used to perform the surgery.
For localized tumors, a robotic partial nephrectomy can be performed, in which only the tumor is resected and the rest of the healthy kidney is left intact. For more aggressive tumors, a robotic radical nephrectomy is performed, removing the entire kidney that contains the tumor. Robotic technology may also be used for successfully removing the affected kidney combined with the ureter, in a procedure known as a radical nephroureterectomy. This is typically performed for tumors within the kidney’s collecting system.
Dr. Shirin Razdan is widely renowned and eminent for her unparalleled skill and experience in the field of robotic surgery for kidney cancer. She has successfully performed robotic partial and radical nephrectomy and other related procedures and treatments in Miami. Experienced surgeons like Dr. Razdan easily use the advanced 3-D magnification feature of the system to precisely detect and remove cancerous kidney tumors, thereby preserving the healthy tissues.
What are Benefits of Robotic Kidney Cancer Surgery?
Kidney cancer treatment has undergone significant advancements with the evolution of robotic-assisted surgery. There are numerous benefits of minimally invasive procedures that have been recognized by the surgeon and the patient. Robotic surgery helps surgeons with successful surgical outcomes through improved precision and visualization. Additionally, the patient benefits in short-term and long-term recovery.
Some of the major benefits of robotic kidney surgery include the following:
- Faster return to normal activity
- Shorter hospitalization stay (most patients can return home in 24 hours)
- Less blood loss
- Fewer complications
- Reduced pain (in most cases, patients fare well without the need for any narcotics after surgery)
- Less scarring as compared to the traditional open surgery
- Lower risk of infection
Schedule a Consultation
If you want to get in contact with Dr. Shirin Razdan to learn more on kidney cancer treatment options in Miami, then call at 305-468-3314 or fill out the patient contact form online on the website. Her medical team will ensure you receive the best professional care you deserve in a timely manner.