Incidental renal neoplasms: incidence in Los Angeles County, treatment and prognosis.

Abstract

The proportion of 3232 malignant renal parenchymal tumors diagnosed at an asymptomatic stage in Los Angeles County over a 13 year period was 15%. A comparison of the proportion of tumors that were asymptomatic at diagnosis over two four year periods, showed no significant change. Asymptomatic tumors were localized to the kidney in 77.5% of cases and had produced metastases in 9.4%. Conversely, symptomatic tumors were localized in only 43.9% and had metastases in 28%. These data are compared with recent literature concerning the incidence, diagnosis, pathology, prognosis and treatment of incidental renal neoplasms.