Terms used in this guideline
This section defines terms that have been used in a particular way for this guideline.
Active surveillance
Monitoring of localised renal cell carcinoma (RCC), Bosniak cysts and oncocytomas in people for whom treatment is an option. Monitoring usually involves a set schedule of imaging to observe the renal lesion or lesions, and detect any changes, over time.
Advanced RCC
RCC that is locally advanced and inoperable, or metastatic.
Durable partial response
A decrease of at least 30% of the sum of diameters of target measurable lesions compared with pre-treatment, observed at least 6 months after starting treatment with systemic anticancer therapy and after at least 1 follow-up imaging scan. See the RECIST guidelines.
First- or second-degree relative
First- degree relative refers to a mother, father, daughter, son, sister, or brother. Second-degree relative refers to an aunt, uncle, niece, nephew, grandmother, grandfather, granddaughter, grandson, or half-sibling.
Follow-up
Monitoring in secondary care involving a set schedule of imaging to detect RCC recurrence or metastases in people who have had treatment with curative intent for localised or locally advanced RCC.
Heritable RCC predisposition syndrome
A heritable genetic condition associated with significantly increased risk of developing RCC or other renal lesions. This is also known as hereditary renal cancer syndrome.
Lesion
This refers to both renal masses (solid) and cysts.
Locally advanced RCC
RCC that has grown into the surrounding tissue or blood vessels. It may have spread to nearby lymph nodes but has not spread to distant parts of the body. In the context of this guideline, this refers to locally advanced RCC that is operable. Inoperable locally advanced RCC is covered under the term 'advanced RCC'.
Metastatic RCC
RCC that has spread from the kidney to other parts of the body, such as the lungs, lymph nodes or bones. This is also called stage 4 cancer.
Oligometastatic cancer
Cancer that has metastasised to a maximum of 3 sites, with a total of 5 or fewer metastatic lesions.
Oncological control
In the context of advanced RCC, this is an approach that aims to increase life expectancy, reduce disease burden and prevent the cancer from growing further and causing symptoms.
Partial nephrectomy
Surgery to remove the primary renal lesion and part of the kidney.
Standard surveillance
This refers to regular surveillance protocols for people with a known heritable RCC predisposition syndrome to ensure early diagnosis and timely treatment of renal cancer or other symptoms associated with the syndrome.
Thermal ablation
The use of heat (microwave or radiofrequency ablation) or cold (cryoablation) to treat a renal lesion.
TNM staging system
A system to describe the amount and spread of RCC in the body. T describes the size of the tumour and any spread of cancer into nearby tissue. N describes spread of cancer to nearby lymph nodes. M describes metastasis, which is the spread of cancer to other parts of the body.
Total nephrectomy
Surgery to remove the primary renal lesion and the whole kidney. This is also called radical nephrectomy.
Uro-oncology multidisciplinary team
A urology- oncology multidisciplinary team consists of a group of healthcare professionals with expertise in managing kidney cancer (for example, a radiologist, pathologist, oncologist and urologist with speciality in kidney cancer surgery).
Widespread metastases
Cancer that has metastasised to more than 3 sites (that is, it has spread more widely than oligometastatic cancer).