Guide To The Major Types Of Kidney Cancer And Tumors

Transitional Cell Carcinoma

Transitional cell carcinoma is an uncommon form of kidney cancer. It may also be referred to as urothelial carcinoma. Only between five and ten percent of all cases of kidney cancer are diagnosed as transitional cell carcinomas. This type of kidney cancer originates in the cells that make up the tissue of the renal pelvis. The renal pelvis is a structure that urine flows through following the kidney but before entering the ureter. These cells are referred to as transitional cells because they have the unique ability to stretch and change shape without bursting or becoming damaged. 

Individuals who smoke cigarettes, have a history of bladder cancer, take pain medication regularly, and are exposed to chemicals in textiles, rubber, leather goods, and plastics are more likely to develop transitional cell carcinoma than others. Surgery is the most widely used form of treatment for this form of kidney cancer. Despite the low prevalence of this form of kidney cancer, ninety percent of all transitional cell carcinoma cases can be cured when they are detected before spreading beyond the urinary tract.