Kidney cancer

Author: Dr Brent Yanke Urologist West Orange New Jersey 2008-07-28

The kidneys (or renal units) are organs responsible for cleansing the blood of waste.  Many byproducts of the metabolic processes in the body build up in the blood stream.  A microscopic tubular system within the kidney filters the blood and removes these byproducts before they can accumulate to dangerous levels.  Kidney tissue is separated into two layers, the outer cortex and the inner medulla.  Once the filtered waste passes through these layers, it collects in the renal pelvis which is an open space in the core of the kidney.  The urine then drains from the renal pelvis into the ureter and finally into the bladder. Surrounding the kidney are several protective layers.  A thin capsule encircles the renal cortex and comprises the outer surface of the kidney.  The kidney sits in a pocket of fat that is itself contained in another layer of tissue called Gerota’s fascia.

A renal tumor is an atypical growth of cells that can arise from different segments of the kidney.  Benign renal tumors are non-cancerous and rarely threatening to the patient while a malignant renal tumor, also known as renal cancer, has a more aggressive nature.  In 2007, there were an estimated 51,190 new cases of kidney cancer and 12,890 deaths due to kidney cancer in the United States.¹ This represents 2% of all diagnosed cancers.²  

Hematuria

Author: Dr Brent Yanke Urologist West Orange New Jersey 2008-07-28

Hematuria: Blood in the Urine

KIDNEY ANATOMY AND FUNCTION

The kidneys are organs responsible for cleansing the blood of waste. Many byproducts of metabolic processes in the body build up in the bloodstream. A microscopic tubular system within the kidney filters the blood and removes these byproducts before they can accumulate to dangerous levels. Once blood enters the kidney, it is transported to a collection of small capillary vessels, called the glomerulus. As the blood passes through the glomerulus, the filtrated waste shifts to Bowman’s capsule, a pouch that surrounds the glomerulus and starts the tubular system. Kidney tissue is separated into two layers: the outer cortex and the inner medulla. Once the filtered waste passes through these layers, it reaches the renal papillae which project into the renal pelvis, an open space in the core of the kidney, where the urine collects. The urine then drains from the renal pelvis into the ureter and finally into the bladder. The kidneys and ureters comprise the upper urinary tract, while the bladder and urethra comprise the lower urinary tract (Figure 1).