Abstract
Incidence and mortality trends attributed to kidney cancer exhibit marked regional
variability, likely related to demographic, environmental, and genetic factors. Efforts
to identify reversible factors, which lead to the development of renal cell carcinoma
(RCC), have led not only to a greater understanding of the etiology of RCC but also
the genetic and histologic characteristics of renal tumors. This article describes
this evolution by discussing contemporary RCC incidence and mortality data, the risk
factors for development of RCC, the histologic features, and anatomic and integrated
staging systems that guide treatment.
Keywords
renal cell carcinoma - kidney cancer - epidemiology and staging - incidence - mortality
- risk factors