Kidney cancer proportion in the structure of cancer pathologies is growing. Early detection is critical for successful treatment and increased survival of patients. In modern clinical practice, classical clinical picture of kidney cancer is rare, giving way to symptoms found in a number of other diseases.

OBJECTIVE

To substantiate the need for diagnostic search for oncological pathology at out-patient stage.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The paper describes a clinical case of oncological disease detected at out-patient stage.

RESULTS

A patient consulted a gastroenterologist with complaints of pain in the left hypochondrium, along the large intestine, relieved by taking antispasmodic drugs. The pain appeared two years ago and gradually spread and increased, what caused the patient to visit a polyclinic. Before visiting the doctor, she passed ultrasound examination of abdominal organs, kidneys and bladder, which found a formation with clear contours In the projection of the tail of the pancreas; in the kidneys, there were signs of bilateral parenchymal cysts. The gastroenterologist ordered additional examination to verify the diagnosis. An abdominal contrast MRI discovered a solid contrast-accumulating formation in the left kidney and simple renal cysts. The patient was referred to an oncologist. Histological examination and several diagnostic measures taken to exclude metastatic lesion to other organs revealed kidney cancer (T1N0M0). In the described clinical case, the PHC specialist has properly conducted diagnostic search to ensure early detection of kidney cancer and timely refer the patient for receiving specialized medical care. This clinical example emphasizes the importance and the need for differential diagnostics as early as the out-patient stage.

CONCLUSION

Increasing oncological awareness among primary care physicians is a key factor in early cancer detection and increasing the likelihood of full recovery for patients.