Incidentally detected renal cell carcinoma in patients with other cancers

Widespread imaging of the kidneys as part of an abdominal or abdominopelvic evaluation of other diseases has led to a marked increase in the incidence of serendipitous renal cell carcinoma. These tumors are generally small, of low pathological stage, and carry a better prognosis than symptomatic cancers. This may merely be due to their earlier detection than the usual renal cell carcinoma. The malignant potential of these tumors, however, might still be high. We report 2 cases of incidentally detected renal tumors in patients with other cancers.