What is Small Cell Carcinoma of the Renal Pelvis?
Small cell carcinoma of the renal pelvis is a rare type of tumor that usually develops in the 6th decade of life in the central region of the kidney called the renal pelvis. Small cell carcinoma of the renal pelvis can also have properties of tumors that originate from the hormone-secreting nerve cells called neuroendocrine cells. Small cell cancers are rare types of cancers that can originate from any part of the body but usually from the lungs. Small cell cancer has the ability to grow rapidly and spread to other distant parts of the body.What is renal pelvis?
The renal pelvis is the site of the kidney where all urine is collected, then filtered through it, and through the ureters collects into the bladder. Small cell carcinoma of the renal pelvis is more common in women than in men.Disease Causes
There is no well-known cause; however certain hereditary and genetic mutations (a change in the sequence of DNA or genetic material) are considered potential causes for the development of small cell carcinoma of the renal pelvis. Cigarette smoking and chronic inflammation of the kidneys are also contributing risk factors for the development of small cell carcinoma of the renal pelvis.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 techniques and procedures can be used to make a diagnosis. These are- Blood tests such as Complete blood count (CBC)
- Urine complete examination (Urine test)
- Diagnostic imaging techniques such as USG, CT-scan, MRI, and PET scan can be used to detect the site, size, and extent of the tumor.
- Tumor biopsy