TREATMENTS &
RESEARCH

Search the
latest
treatment
information
here.

Dr. Huntley's
Diagnosis
Checklist

Have a symptom?
See what questions
a doctor would ask.

Next Prev

Diseases » Kidney Cancer » Glossary

Glossary for Kidney Cancer

Abdominal Pain: A condition which is characterized by the sensation of pain that is located in the abdomen
Abdominal mass: Abdominal swelling with hard mass felt
Abdominal swelling: Swelling or bloating of the abdomen
Acquired Cystic Kidney Disease: Kidney disease causing kidney cysts.
Adrenal Cancer: A malignant cancer that develops in the adrenal gland. The tumor may be nonfunctioning (does not produce hormones) or functioning in which case excessive levels of hormones can cause a variety of symptoms depending on which hormone is involved. Adrenal hormones made in the cortex (outer part of the gland) are aldosterone, corticosteroids and androgenic steroids. Adrenalin and noradrenalin are the hormones made in the medulla (central part of the adrenal gland).
Amyloidosis: A rare group of metabolic disorders where a protein called amyloid accumulates in body organs and tissues where it can cause damage and is potentially fatal. Symptoms depend on the organs involved. There are numerous forms of the condition: primary amyloidosis, secondary amyloidosis, hemodialysis-associated amyloidosis and familial amyloidosis.
Bladder Cancer: Bladder cancer refers to any of several types of malignant growths of the urinary bladder. It is a disease in which abnormal cells multiply without control in the bladder.
Blood clots: Multiple coagulums that are located in the blood stream due to the aggregation of blood factors
Blood in urine: Blood or blood-like discoloration of urine.
Bone cancer: Malignancy that occurs in the bone
Cancer: Abnormal overgrowth of body cells.
Carcinoid syndrome: Carcinoid heart disease is a rare, metastatic disease that occurs predominantly in the right heart. The tricuspid and pulmonic valves are affected, leading to right heart failure, which results in increased morbidity and mortality.
Congenital mesoblastic nephroma: A benign congenital kidney tumor.
Congestive Heart Failure: Inadequate pumping and decline of heart function common in the elderly.
Death: The cessation of life
Fever: Elevation of the body temperature above the normal 37 degrees celsius
Growth-hormone secreting pituitary adenoma, colonic polyposis, lipomatosis, lentigines and renal carcinoma: An inherited cancer syndrome involving kidney cancer, polyposis of the colon and a pituitary tumor.
Hematuria: Blood in the urine
Hereditary Leiomyomatosis and Renal Cell Cancer: A rare inherited condition characterized by the presence of tumors that develop from smooth muscle tissue in the skin, uterus and the kidneys. The skin anomalies can occur on any part of the body and gradually increase in number and size with age. Kidney tumors develop in only a relatively small proportion of patients with the condition.
Human carcinogen - Phenacetin: Phenacetin (a drug) is deemed to be carcinogenic to humans. The carcinogenicity of the substance may be influenced by the duration and level of exposure.
Hypertension: High blood pressure
Infective endocarditis: The infection and inflammation of the inner heart layers, especially the valves. The infection is usually bacterial. The condition carries a high risk of death.
Kidney Cancer: Cancer that forms in tissues of the kidneys
Kidney conditions: Any condition affecting the kidney organs.
Kidney stones: Stone-like calcium deposits in the kidney.
Kidney symptoms: Symptoms affecting one or both kidneys.
Lung cancer: Lung cancer is a disease of uncontrolled cell growth in tissues of the lung. This growth may lead to metastasis, which is the invasion of adjacent tissue and infiltration beyond the lungs. Most lung tumors are malignant.
Lymphoma: Cancer involving lymph nodes and the immune system.
Metastatic cancer: Any cancer that has spread to other parts of the body.
No symptoms: The absence of noticable symptoms.
Obesity: An increase in the body weight greater than that required for normal function that is characterised by the accumulation of excessive fat
Oncocytoma, renal: A type of benign kidney tumor.
PTEN Hamartoma Tumor Syndrome: PTEN Hamartoma Tumor Syndrome is a group of conditions caused by a mutation in the PTEN gene. The primary characteristic of the condition is the development of multiple hamartomas (tumor-like growth) in virtually any part of the body. The growths are generally not cancerous but patients often have an increased risk of developing various cancers. Specific conditions covered by this term are Cowden syndrome, BAnnayan-Riley-Ruvalcaba Syndrome and Proteus syndrome.
Pain: A feeling of suffering, agony, distress caused by the stimulation of pain fibres in the nervous system
Papillary renal cell carcinoma: A type of kidney tumor characterized by the development of finger-like projections in at least some of the tumor. It can be inherited in a familial pattern or occur sporadically.
Paraneoplastic syndromes:
Polycystic kidney disease: Genetic kidney disease causing kidney cysts.
Pyelonephritis: Kidney and ureter infection usually bacterial from the bladder.
Renal abscess: A pus-filled cavity that develops in the kidney as a result of inflammation. The inflammation may result from other purulent infections in the body. It is most common in young adults.
Renal infarction: The death of an area of tissue in the kidney due to a localized lack of oxygen. Usually results from an interruption in the blood supply. The severity of the symptoms depends on how large the affected part of the kidney is. Small infarcts can produce virtually no symptoms. The condition is relatively uncommon and frequently misdiagnosed.
Secondary Bone Cancer: Tumour development in bone as a result of spread from a primary malignant tumour from another body site (usually lung bronchus, breast and prostate)
Simple kidney cysts: Usually harmless kidney cysts appearing later in life.
Smoking: The smoking of cigarettes
Stauffer syndrome: Spleen and liver problems associated with a kidney tumor.
Steroid abuse: Steroids are man-made chemicals that can be used to promote muscle development and increase male sexual characteristics. Steroids are a prescription drug usually used to treat disorders such as delayed puberty and body wasting in AIDS patients. Excessive or improper use of steroids usually occurs in athletes and can result in a range of unwanted symptoms.
Transitional cell carcinoma: A type of cancer that occurs in the lining of the urinary system organs (renal pelvis, bladder or ureter).
Tuberous sclerosis: A rare genetic disorder characterized by harmartomatous skin nodules, seizures, phakomata and bone lesions.
Urinary system cancer: A malignancy that affects the urinary system
Von Hippel-Lindau Disease: Genetic disease causing multiple benign tumors
Wilms' tumor: A malignant kidney tumor that occurs in children.