Renal cell carcinoma: incidental detection

The mode of presentation of renal cell carcinoma is changing; in 40% of cases the condition is now found incidentally during the investigation of complaints other than those usually associated with this tumour. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy have not improved the survival of patients with renal cell carcinomas, but, with the introduction of ultrasonography, renal cell carcinomas, including those found incidentally, are being diagnosed earlier than they were a decade ago, resulting in improved survival rates.