National Center for Advancing and Translational Sciences Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center, a program of the National Center for Advancing and Translational Sciences

Renal medullary carcinoma


Other Names:
Kidney Medullary Carcinoma
Categories:
Renal medullary carcinoma is a rare kidney cancer that mostly affects young people with African ancestry.[1] The tumor develops in the medulla of the kidney. The first sign is often blood in the urine (hematuria). Patients may also develop flank pain or feel a lump in the abdomen that is usually on the right side of the body. Having sickle cell trait is a risk factor for developing renal medullary carcinoma. Treatment options include surgery to take out part or all of the kidney (radical nephrectomy), chemotherapy, and palliative radiation therapy. In most cases, the disease is advanced when the diagnosis is made and has spread to other parts of the body (metastasis).[2][3]
Last updated: 12/1/2016

Research helps us better understand diseases and can lead to advances in diagnosis and treatment. This section provides resources to help you learn about medical research and ways to get involved.

Clinical Research Resources

  • ClinicalTrials.gov lists trials that are related to Renal medullary carcinoma. Click on the link to go to ClinicalTrials.gov to read descriptions of these studies.

    Please note: Studies listed on the ClinicalTrials.gov website are listed for informational purposes only; being listed does not reflect an endorsement by GARD or the NIH. We strongly recommend that you talk with a trusted healthcare provider before choosing to participate in any clinical study.

Support and advocacy groups can help you connect with other patients and families, and they can provide valuable services. Many develop patient-centered information and are the driving force behind research for better treatments and possible cures. They can direct you to research, resources, and services. Many organizations also have experts who serve as medical advisors or provide lists of doctors/clinics. Visit the group’s website or contact them to learn about the services they offer. Inclusion on this list is not an endorsement by GARD.

Organizations Supporting this Disease

These resources provide more information about this condition or associated symptoms. The in-depth resources contain medical and scientific language that may be hard to understand. You may want to review these resources with a medical professional.

In-Depth Information

  • Orphanet is a European reference portal for information on rare diseases and orphan drugs. Access to this database is free of charge.

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  1. Kidney Medullary Carcinoma. NCI Thesaurus. https://ncim.nci.nih.gov/ncimbrowser/ConceptReport.jsp?dictionary=NCI Metathesaurus&code=CL448379. Accessed 12/1/2016.
  2. Alappan N, Marak CP, Chopra A, Joy PS, Dorokhova O & Guddati AK. Renal Medullary Cancer in a Patient with Sickle Cell Trait. Case Reports in Oncological Medicine, 2013, Article ID 129813. 2013; https://www.hindawi.com/journals/crionm/2013/129813/.
  3. Shah AY & cols. Management and Outcomes of Patients with Renal Medullary Carcinoma: A Multi-Center Collaborative Study. BJU Int. November 8, 2016; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27860149.