Clear cell renal cell carcinoma

Disease Overview

Clear cell renal cell carcinoma is a cancer of the kidney.  The name “clear cell” refers to the appearance of the cancer cells when viewed with a microscope.[5258]  Clear cell renal cell carcinoma occurs when cells in the kidney quickly increase in number, creating a lump (mass).  Though the exact cause of clear cell renal cell carcinoma is unknown, smoking, the excessive use of certain medications, and several genetic predisposition conditions (such as von Hippel Lindau syndrome) may contribute to the development of this type of cancer.  Treatment often begins with surgery to remove as much of the cancer as possible, and may be followed by radiation therapy, chemotherapy, biological therapy, or targeted therapy.[5257]

Synonyms

• Clear cell RCC
• Cystic-multilocular variant
• Clear-cell metastatic renal cell carcinoma (subtype)