ABDOMINAL PAIN LEADS TO DIAGNOSIS OF MALIGNANT KIDNEY TUMOR
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Author: BỆNH VIỆN ĐA KHOA QUỐC TẾ NAM SÀI GÒN
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15/01/2024
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56
A man experiencing prolonged abdominal discomfort recently discovered he had a malignant tumor in his kidney. Thanks to timely medical intervention, doctors at Nam Sai Gon International General Hospital successfully removed a 2-kg renal tumor through surgery.
Mr. E.C., 66 years old, presented with persistent dull pain in his left abdomen. Upon examination, he noticed a palpable mass. A CT scan revealed a large 86x60x82 mm tumor, which had infiltrated surrounding fat tissue and was compressing nearby internal organs. A multidisciplinary team of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Urology, Radiology, and Anesthesiology specialists convened and decided on surgical removal of the kidney tumor.
Dr. Le Van Hieu Nhan, Specialist Level II, Head of the Urology – Andrology – Kidney Surgery Unit, Nam Sai Gon International General Hospital, explained:
“Most kidney tumors are malignant and may silently grow, invading adjacent organs or spreading to distant sites. In this case, the tumor had all the hallmarks of renal cell carcinoma. Complete removal of the left kidney was necessary, but patients can live healthy lives with just one functioning kidney. Unfortunately, Mr. E.C. did not undergo regular health screenings, and by the time the tumor was detected, it had grown over 8 cm and was located near major renal blood vessels. Moreover, he had a history of stroke and hypertension, which made surgical planning even more critical”.
Depending on the tumor stage, size, and location, treatment options vary. If a renal mass is smaller than 4 cm, confined within the kidney, and not invading the renal capsule or surrounding fat, surgeons may perform nephron-sparing surgery. However, once the tumor exceeds 4 cm or shows signs of local invasion, radical nephrectomy via open or laparoscopic surgery is often required.
The surgical team — Dr. Le Van Hieu Nhan, Specialist Level II, Dr. Pham Truong Minh, and Dr. Quach Tuan Khang — performed a nearly 3-hour operation, removing the entire left kidney, the surrounding perirenal fat, and regional lymph nodes. The tumor occupied nearly half of the abdominal cavity and weighed approximately 2 kilograms.
Postoperatively, the patient was closely monitored. Just four days after surgery, his remaining kidney showed excellent function, and he was able to move independently and was discharged in stable condition.
Dr. Nhan emphasized: “Kidney tumors often develop silently. By the time symptoms like abdominal pain, bloating, unintended weight loss, or changes in bowel or urinary habits appear, the tumor may have already grown significantly or spread. Some tumors can reach 3 – 4 kg in weight before detection”.
Statistically, about 30% of renal tumors are found incidentally during routine abdominal ultrasound. Another 25% are diagnosed when patients report blood in urine or flank pain. In late-stage cases, patients may notice a growing abdominal mass caused by tumor expansion.
Identified risk factors for renal cell carcinoma include smoking; occupational exposure to chemicals used in textiles, mining, steel, dyes, pesticides, and plastics; obesity (especially in women); hypertension; chronic kidney disease and dialysis; chronic hepatitis C infection; and long-term use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
Dr. Nhan recommends regular health screenings at well-equipped medical centers to enable early detection and timely treatment of tumors and cancers. Additionally, maintaining a healthy lifestyle — avoiding alcohol and smoking, following a balanced diet, and reducing fat and sugar intake — plays a vital role in cancer prevention.
Nam Sai Gon International General Hospital accepts both public health insurance and private health insurance.
Nam Sai Gon International General Hospital
No. 88, Street No. 8, Trung Son Residential Area, Binh Hung Commune, Ho Chi Minh City.
Hotline: 18006767
info@nih.com.vn
Last updated: 18:01 02/08/2025
