Malignant disease of the kidney. An appraisal of diagnosis and management.

The diverse systemic effects associated with malignant renal tumours are described. It is emphasized that their recognition is essential for the early diagnosis of the tumour and that many of these effects may be overlooked unless the clinician is alert to their significance. Many of these early diagnostic clues also have a prognostic value.Although the basic management of a patient with a renal tumour continues to be a nephrectomy, the importance of tumour staging in relation to radical surgery is emphasized. Adjuvant therapy by radiotherapy, drugs, or immunotherapy is described and evaluated.