A person with renal oncocytoma has a noncancerous (benign) mass in one or both of their kidneys. When symptoms occur, they mimic renal cell carcinoma, a type of kidney cancer. Surgery to remove and biopsy the tumor is the only way to diagnose renal oncocytomas. For small, asymptomatic tumors, your healthcare provider might recommend active surveillance.
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Renal oncocytoma is a noncancerous (benign) growth in one or both of your kidneys. These lesions may not cause symptoms or need treatment. Healthcare providers often discover renal oncocytomas accidentally while performing diagnostic tests for another issue.
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Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Policy
Renal oncocytoma (REE-null ahn-CAH-sy-TOE-muh) means:
Up to 7% of kidney growths are renal oncocytomas. As many as 13% of people with renal oncocytoma have multiple growths in both kidneys, a condition known as renal oncocytosis.
Renal oncocytomas can affect all ages, races and genders. They’re more common in people assigned male at birth (AMAB) and in those over 60 years old.
Renal oncocytoma can also occur in genetic conditions like Birt-Hogg-Dubé syndrome. This genetic condition causes an increased risk of kidney cysts, benign growths like renal oncocytoma and kidney cancer.
Renal oncocytomas are unlikely to become cancerous. However, studies have found rare instances where people with renal oncocytomas with no known history of cancer develop metastatic cancer in their liver or bones. This indicates that their oncocytoma became cancerous.
Renal oncocytomas share a similar appearance on non-invasive imaging to renal cell carcinomas, which is the most common type of kidney cancer.
Unfortunately, imaging tests can’t show whether a tumor is benign or malignant. Healthcare providers may recommend surgery to remove the mass. A biopsy can confirm a diagnosis of renal oncocytoma or kidney cancer.
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Cysts and tumors share similarities and differences:
Most kidney cysts like renal oncocytomas have no known cause. Some experts believe that genetic changes (mutations) that occur after birth make some people more prone to these cysts.
Some families have an inherited gene change or mutation that increases their risk for developing multiple renal oncocytomas in both kidneys. Conditions such as tuberous sclerosis complex and Birt-Hogg-Dubé syndrome cause growths to form in organs.
An estimated 3 in 4 people with renal oncocytomas don’t have symptoms. When symptoms occur, they can be a lot like kidney cancer symptoms, such as:
Healthcare providers often discover renal oncocytomas when reviewing imaging tests like kidney ultrasounds, MRIs or CT scans to check for other problems, such as kidney stones.
Renal oncocytomas and cancerous tumors like renal cell carcinoma look alike on imaging scans. This makes it difficult for healthcare providers to determine whether a person has a noncancerous cyst or a cancerous tumor. A biopsy to test the tumor cells is the only way to make an accurate diagnosis. This biopsy takes place after surgery to remove the mass.
Up to 45% of biopsied kidney tumors aren’t cancerous. For this reason, your healthcare provider may recommend watching the tumor (active surveillance) instead of surgery, especially if the tumor is small and doesn’t cause problems. During active surveillance, you undergo regular imaging scans to monitor the tumor for growth or changes that could indicate cancer.
Renal oncocytomas that don’t grow or cause problems may not need treatment. Your healthcare provider may recommend surgery if the diagnosis is uncertain or you have symptoms.
Surgery may remove only the mass (partial nephrectomy) or the entire kidney (radical nephrectomy). If you have a kidney removed, you can still live an active life with one kidney.
Benign renal oncocytomas don’t affect your ability to lead a full, active life. It’s extremely rare for oncocytomas to become cancerous. Surgically removed oncocytomas don’t tend to come back. The outlook may be different if you have a genetic condition that causes tumors to form in your organs.
Call your healthcare provider if you experience:
You may want to ask your healthcare provider:
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Chromophobe renal cell carcinoma is a rare kidney cancer. It develops in the small tubes (tubules) that help your kidneys remove waste from your blood. Your urinary system gets rid of this waste. About 5% of kidney cancers are the chromophobe type.
People with Birt-Hogg-Dubé syndrome are more likely to develop kidney tumors. They have a higher risk of both noncancerous tumors (renal oncocytomas) and cancerous tumors (chromophobe renal cell carcinoma). Surgery and a tumor biopsy can determine the tumor type.
A note from Cleveland Clinic
Renal oncocytomas are noncancerous kidney cysts that rarely cause symptoms. Healthcare providers often find the cyst after testing for another condition. Because these cysts share similarities with renal cell carcinoma (a kidney cancer), you may need surgery to remove the mass. A biopsy can confirm whether you have renal oncocytoma or kidney cancer.
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Last reviewed on 11/18/2021.
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