The Asian Institute of Nephrology and Urology (AINU), Hyderabad, successfully treated a 42-year-old man whose kidney cancer was discovered incidentally during a routine health check-up, despite him having no symptoms.
According to doctors, the patient underwent a regular master health check-up where an abdominal ultrasound unexpectedly revealed an approximately 8 cm mass in his left kidney. Surprisingly, he had no warning signs such as pain, blood in urine, or weight loss. He also had no history of diabetes, hypertension, smoking, or any significant family history of cancer.
To confirm the diagnosis, doctors performed a contrast-enhanced CT scan of the abdomen, which showed a renal tumor in the left kidney. After evaluating the condition, the medical team decided to perform a radical nephrectomy, a surgery in which the entire affected kidney is removed.
Post-surgery, histopathological examination confirmed that the tumor was clear cell renal cell carcinoma, the most common type of kidney cancer. The patient recovered well after the operation and is currently stable.
Dr. Srinivasa Narayanam, Head of Urology and Senior Consultant Urologist at AINU, explained that kidney cancer accounts for nearly 2–3% of all adult cancers worldwide, with around 430,000 new cases and 130,000 deaths each year. He noted that men are more commonly affected, and 70–80% of kidney tumors are detected incidentally during scans for unrelated issues because early-stage kidney cancer often develops silently.
He also highlighted common risk factors such as:
Smoking
Obesity
High blood pressure
Family history of kidney cancer
Certain genetic conditions like Von Hippel–Lindau disease
Doctors said that when kidney tumors are detected early, they can often be cured through surgery. Smaller tumors may be treated with partial nephrectomy (kidney-sparing surgery), while larger tumors may require complete kidney removal. In advanced cases, immunotherapy after surgery has shown promising results.
Experts stressed the importance of regular health screenings, including abdominal ultrasounds, especially for people with risk factors. Classic symptoms of advanced kidney cancer may include:
Blood in urine (hematuria)
Persistent flank pain
A lump or swelling in the abdomen
Unexplained weight loss
This case highlights how routine check-ups can play a life-saving role by detecting silent diseases like kidney cancer at an early and treatable stage.