A physician will examine the abdomen by touch, but it rarely reveals a mass or an enlarged kidney. The patient may have blood in the urine. A complete blood count (CBC) may show anemia.
Cancer cells may appear on the following tests:
- Urine cytology (microscopic examination of cells) obtained during a cystoscopy
- Urine cytology obtained from a urine sample
The tumor, or signs of urinary obstruction, may appear on:
- Intravenous pyelogram (IVP)
- Kidney ultrasound
- Abdominal CT scan
- MRI of abdomen
- Renal scan
An x-ray, CT scan, or MRI of other areas of the body may show that the cancer has spread from the kidneys.