Nonurologic Symptoms in Patients With Renal Cancer

This study revealed that in one-third of a series of 577 patients with renal cancer the classic triad of symptoms—i. e., hematuria, flank pain, and flank tumor—was absent. On the other hand, they had one or more atypical or nonurologic symptoms such as fever, weight loss, and weakness. Pain was the chief complaint in 31 patients, but it was not in the flank. Twelve patients sought attention because of a painless tumor mass in the abdomen. There was absence of gross hematuria in 179 patients, and microscopic examination of the urine showed the absence of red blood cells in 109. The classic symptomcomplex should always suggest renal tumor, but in the presence of atypical symptoms, not otherwise explained an intravenous urogram may reveal the hidden cause and thereby aid in earlier diagnosis. Metastases were demonstrated in 80 of the patients at the time of discovery of the renal neoplasm.