The short answer
The most common kidney cancer in adults is renal cell carcinoma, which has several subtypes. Less common types include transitional cell carcinoma. In children, the main kidney cancer is Wilms tumor. The type guides treatment.
Renal cell carcinoma is the most common kidney cancer in adults.
Clear cell is the most common subtype of renal cell carcinoma.
Transitional cell carcinoma is a less common type that starts where urine collects.
Wilms tumor is the main kidney cancer in children.
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The full explanation.
The simple version
Kidney cancer is not a single disease. Knowing the type is important because different types behave and are treated differently. In adults, the most common type by far is renal cell carcinoma.
Renal cell carcinoma
Renal cell carcinoma starts in the tiny tubes that filter blood in the kidney. It has several subtypes, the most common being clear cell renal cell carcinoma. The subtype can affect which treatments are most likely to help.
Renal cell carcinoma is the most common kidney cancer in adults.
Other types
Less common types include transitional cell carcinoma, which starts in the renal pelvis where urine collects and is treated more like bladder cancer. In children, the main kidney cancer is Wilms tumor, which is different from adult kidney cancers.
Why it matters
Because types and subtypes respond differently to treatment, doctors confirm the exact type, usually by examining tissue, to guide the treatment plan.
Words to know
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Common questions
▸What is the most common kidney cancer?
In adults, the most common type is renal cell carcinoma, which starts in the tiny tubes that filter blood in the kidney. It has several subtypes, the most common being clear cell.
▸What is transitional cell carcinoma?
It is a less common kidney cancer that starts in the renal pelvis, where urine collects before going to the bladder. It is treated more like bladder cancer.
▸What about kidney cancer in children?
The main kidney cancer in children is Wilms tumor, which is different from adult kidney cancers and usually affects young children.
▸Why does the type matter?
Different types and subtypes behave and respond to treatment differently, so knowing the exact type helps guide the plan.
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