Incidentally detected renal carcinoma.

The manner of presentation and tumour stage in 52 consecutive patients with renal carcinoma who were treated surgically between 1974 and 1979 (group I) and 112 patients treated similarly between 1980 and 1985 (group II) were reviewed. In group I 16 cases (31%) were discovered incidentally compared to 50 cases (45%) in group II. Before the year 1980 most of the tumours were discovered incidentally at the time of intravenous urography (IVP) or angiography performed for examinations of urinary tract infection or hypertension. After 1980 most incidentally discovered tumours were found at ultrasound or computed tomography (CT) examinations. The tumour stage was lower in the incidentally discovered cases than in cases where the diagnosis was suspected. Routine use of excretory urography, computed tomography, ultrasound, bone scans and other effective diagnostic studies has led to earlier diagnosis, lower stage and possibly better survival in incidentally found cases of renal carcinoma than in cases when the diagnosis was suspected.