Further tests for kidney cancer
If the physical examination suggests that you may have cancer of the kidney, your doctor may want you to have some further tests before a diagnosis is made. If cancer is found you may need to have tests to check whether the cancer has spread.
These tests may include any of the following:
IVU or IVP (intravenous urogram)
This test shows up abnormalities in the kidneys or urinary system. It will be done in the hospital x-ray department and takes about an hour.
A dye is injected into a vein in your arm, and travels through the blood stream to the kidneys. The doctor can watch on an x-ray screen how the dye passes through the kidneys and can pick up any abnormalities.
The dye will probably make you feel hot and flushed for a few minutes but this feeling gradually disappears. You should be able to go home as soon as the test is over.
Ultrasound scan
This test can be very helpful in diagnosing cancer of the kidney. Sound waves are used to build up a picture of the inside of the abdomen. It will be done in the hospital scanning department. It is a painless test and only takes a few minutes.
Once you are lying comfortably on your back, a gel is spread on to your abdomen. A small device, which produces sound waves, is then gently rubbed over the area. The echoes are converted into a picture by a computer.
Ultrasound can be used to look for any change in shape of the kidneys, which may suggest there is a cyst or tumour. It can also measure the size and position of a cancer. Sometimes, the doctor may use the ultrasound picture to guide a needle into the tumour to remove a small piece of the kidney tissues so that it can be examined under a microscope. This is called a needle biopsy.
CT (computerised tomography) scan
A CT scan is a series of x-rays, which builds up a three-dimensional picture of the inside of the body. The scan is painless but takes longer than an x-ray (about 10 minutes). It may be used to identify the exact site of the tumour, or to check for any spread of the disease.
You may be asked not to eat or drink anything for at least four hours before your appointment. Most people who have a CT scan are given a drink or injection about an hour before the scan, to allow particular areas to be seen more clearly. For a few minutes, this may make you feel hot all over. Before having the injection or drink it is important to tell your doctor and the person doing the test if you are allergic to iodine or have asthma. You will probably be able to go home as soon as the scan is over.
CT-guided biopsy
Sometimes, a CT scan is done in order to take a biopsy from the kidney: this is known as a CT-guided biopsy. While you are lying in the scanning machine, the doctor will inject a local anaesthetic to numb the area over the kidney. A needle is then inserted through the skin and muscle into the kidney. The pictures on the CT scan are used to guide the needle into the abnormal area and a small biopsy can be taken. This is then examined under a microscope. You may be kept in hospital for a few hours (or overnight) after this procedure.
MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scan
This test is similar to a CT scan but uses magnetism instead of x-rays to build up a detailed picture of areas of your body.
The MRI scan is painless and can take about 30 minutes (d) During the test you will be asked to lie very still on a couch inside a long tube for about 30 minutes. It is painless but can be slightly uncomfortable, and some people feel a bit claustrophobic during the scan. It is also noisy, but you will be given earplugs or headphones. You can usually take someone with you into the room to keep you company.
The scanner is a very powerful magnet, so before entering the room you should remove any metal belongings. People who have heart monitors, pacemakers or certain metallic surgical clips cannot have an MRI because of the magnetic fields.
Some people are given an injection of dye into a vein in the arm to show the kidneys better.
It will probably take several days for the results of your tests to be ready, and this waiting period will obviously be an anxious time for you. It may help if you can find a relative or close friend you can talk things over with. You could also contact one of a support organisation. (from cancerbacup.org.uk)
Further tests for kidney cancer
