What is Lymphoepithelioma like carcinoma of the renal pelvis?
Lymphoepithelioma like carcinoma of the renal pelvis is a rare type of cancer that arises from the epithelial cells of the central region of the kidney called the renal pelvis where the urine collects and then through ureters goes into the urinary bladder. Lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma of the renal pelvis consists of epithelial cells of the renal pelvis along the infiltration of lymphocytes that make the undifferentiated cancer of the renal pelvis. Other common sites of development of lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma are the breast, thymus, skin, lungs, stomach, uterus, cervix, prostate, and urinary tract.What is Renal Pelvis?
The renal pelvis is the central area of the kidney; urine collects in the renal pelvis and through ureters goes into the urinary bladder.Disease Causes
There is no well-known cause, however certain hereditary and genetic mutations along with the prolonged use of medicinal and other harmful substances that irritate the tissues of the kidney are considered responsible for the development of lymphoepithelioma like carcinoma of the renal pelvis. There is also a strong association between current or past Epstein Barr virus infection and the development of lymphoepithelioma like carcinoma of the renal pelvis. It is more common in females than males. It usually affects people in their 6th or 7th decade of life.Signs and Symptoms
The patient may suffer from the following signs and symptoms. These are- Pain in the back
- Mass on side of the back
- Blood in the urine
- Frequent desire to pass urine
- Pain while passing urine
- Unintentional weight loss
- Constant Fever
- Constant Fatigue
- Loss of appetite
Diagnosis
The following diagnostic tests and procedures can be used to make a diagnosis. These are- Physical examination and complete medical history
- Ultrasound (USG), CT scan, MRI, and PRET-scan of the abdomen
- Biopsy of the lesion/tumour and histopathological examination
- Barium Meal
- Renal functions tests (RFTs)
- Liver function tests (LFTs)
- Complete blood count (CBC)
- EBV antibody test