| [ Summary ] |
The incidence of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) in dialysis patients is higher than that observed in the general population. The longer the duration of hemodialysis, the higher the incidence of RCC. This is because the development of RCC is related to the presence of acquired cystic disease of the kidney (ACDK). Screening for RCC is not usually performed in the general population, since the incidence of RCC is low, although screening for RCC may be performed as a part of general heath check-ups. Screening for RCC in dialysis patients is recommended because of its high incidence and lack of symptoms. It is especially necessary for dialysis patients who have received treatment for more than 10 years, dialysis patients with ACDK, and potential recipients of renal transplantation to have this screening. However, there is still no evidence indicating the appropriate number of screens per year. Although prognoses for rapidly progressive tumorsare poor, the natural history of major RCCs in dialysis patients remains to be elucidated. |