The kidneys are two bean-shaped organs that filter waste and extra water from the blood to make urine. They also help control blood pressure and keep the body’s chemistry in balance. When tissue is removed from a kidney — either a small sample taken with a needle or a larger piece removed during surgery — a pathologist examines it under a microscope and describes what they see in your pathology report.
This page brings together our guides to conditions found in the kidneys. The articles are grouped by type to help you find the one that matches your diagnosis. Some are tumors, including cancers, and others are diseases that affect how the kidney works. Select any article below to learn more.
Cancers of the kidney
These diagnoses are tumors of the kidney that are cancerous or have the potential to behave like cancer. The most common types are the renal cell carcinomas. The articles explain how each type is diagnosed and what the details in your pathology report mean.
Clear cell renal cell carcinoma
Clear cell renal cell carcinoma is the most common type of kidney cancer. This article explains how it is diagnosed and what the details in your pathology report mean, including grade and stage.
You may find this helpful if your report mentions clear cell renal cell carcinoma, the most common type of kidney cancer.
Papillary renal cell carcinoma
Papillary renal cell carcinoma is the second most common type of kidney cancer. This article explains how it is diagnosed and what your pathology report describes.
You may find this helpful if your report mentions papillary renal cell carcinoma.
Chromophobe renal cell carcinoma
Chromophobe renal cell carcinoma is a type of kidney cancer that usually grows slowly and has a good outlook. This article explains what this diagnosis means.
You may find this helpful if your report mentions chromophobe renal cell carcinoma.
Fumarate hydratase-deficient renal cell carcinoma
Fumarate hydratase-deficient renal cell carcinoma is a rare type of kidney cancer defined by the loss of a gene called fumarate hydratase. It can be linked to an inherited condition. This article explains what this diagnosis means.
You may find this helpful if your report mentions fumarate hydratase-deficient renal cell carcinoma, or FH testing.
Succinate dehydrogenase-deficient renal cell carcinoma
Succinate dehydrogenase-deficient renal cell carcinoma is a rare type of kidney cancer defined by the loss of a gene called succinate dehydrogenase. It can be linked to an inherited condition. This article explains what this diagnosis means.
You may find this helpful if your report mentions succinate dehydrogenase-deficient renal cell carcinoma, or SDH testing.
TFE3-rearranged renal cell carcinoma
TFE3-rearranged renal cell carcinoma is a kidney cancer defined by a change in the TFE3 gene. It is more common in children and young adults. This article explains what this diagnosis means.
You may find this helpful if your report mentions TFE3-rearranged renal cell carcinoma, also called Xp11 translocation renal cell carcinoma.
Xp11 translocation renal cell carcinoma
Xp11 translocation renal cell carcinoma is another name for TFE3-rearranged renal cell carcinoma, a kidney cancer defined by a change in the TFE3 gene. This article explains what this diagnosis means.
You may find this helpful if your report mentions Xp11 translocation renal cell carcinoma.
Tubulocystic renal cell carcinoma
Tubulocystic renal cell carcinoma is a rare type of kidney cancer that forms small tubes and cysts. It usually has a very good outlook. This article explains what this diagnosis means.
You may find this helpful if your report mentions tubulocystic renal cell carcinoma.
Nephroblastoma, also called Wilms tumor, is the most common kidney cancer in children. This article explains how it is diagnosed and what the details in your pathology report mean.
You may find this helpful if your child’s report mentions nephroblastoma or Wilms tumor.
Epithelioid angiomyolipoma is an uncommon kidney tumor. Most behave in a harmless way, but some can grow into nearby tissue or spread, so it is followed closely. This article explains what this diagnosis means.
You may find this helpful if your report mentions an epithelioid angiomyolipoma.
Noncancerous tumors
These diagnoses are noncancerous tumors of the kidney. They do not spread to other parts of the body and are often found by chance during imaging done for another reason. The articles explain what each diagnosis means.
An angiomyolipoma is a common, noncancerous kidney tumor made of blood vessels, muscle, and fat. This article explains what this diagnosis means and how it is treated.
You may find this helpful if your report mentions an angiomyolipoma, or a fat-containing tumor in the kidney.
An oncocytoma is a noncancerous kidney tumor made of large cells called oncocytes. This article explains what this diagnosis means and how it is treated.
You may find this helpful if your report mentions an oncocytoma of the kidney.
A papillary adenoma is a very small, noncancerous kidney tumor. It is usually found by chance and does not need treatment. This article explains what this diagnosis means.
You may find this helpful if your report mentions a papillary adenoma of the kidney.
Medical kidney diseases
These diagnoses are diseases that affect how the kidney filters blood and makes urine. They are not cancer and are not tumors. They are usually diagnosed from a small sample of kidney tissue taken with a needle. The articles explain what each diagnosis means and what a pathologist looks for.
IgA nephropathy is a kidney disease in which an immune protein called IgA builds up in the kidney’s filters and causes damage. This article explains what a pathologist sees in IgA nephropathy.
You may find this helpful if your report mentions IgA nephropathy, also called Berger’s disease.
Membranous glomerulonephritis is a kidney disease in which the filters of the kidney become thickened and leak protein into the urine. This article explains what this diagnosis means.
You may find this helpful if your report mentions membranous glomerulonephritis or membranous nephropathy.
Diabetic nephropathy is kidney damage caused by long-standing diabetes. This article explains what a pathologist sees in diabetic nephropathy.
You may find this helpful if your report mentions diabetic nephropathy or diabetic glomerulosclerosis.
Acute T cell-mediated rejection
Acute T cell-mediated rejection is a reaction in which the immune system attacks a transplanted kidney. This article explains what a pathologist sees in this type of rejection.
You may find this helpful if your report mentions acute T cell-mediated rejection of a kidney transplant.
Polyomavirus nephropathy is a kidney infection caused by a virus called polyomavirus. It most often affects people with a kidney transplant. This article explains what this diagnosis means.
You may find this helpful if your report mentions polyomavirus nephropathy or BK virus.
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