Renal adenocarcinoma and acquired cystic disease in chronic hemodialysis patients.

Three chronic hemodialysis patients developed renal cell adenocarcinoma with evidence of acquired cystic disease in two. The incidence of renal cancer in this study population of 0.27% per year is 50 times greater than that expected in general. The cancers appeared to develop at different rates. In one patient examined by serial computed tomography (CT) over 2.5 years, the tumor progressed rapidly. In the other two patients, the process was more idolent. On the basis of our experience, we recommend that dialysis patients be screened for acquired cystic kidney disease (ACKD) and renal tumors by sonography or CT. Patients with ACKD should be observed at regular intervals by CT for the development of possible tumor.