Can kidney stones cause kidney cancer?
Disease description:
Recently, when using the restroom, I felt difficulty urinating, along with lower back pain and leg numbness. I then had a B-ultrasound, which showed that I have kidney stones, and the stones are somewhat large. May I ask, can kidney stones lead to kidney cancer?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Yang Ziqi
Kidney stones generally do not lead to kidney cancer.
1. Different disease characteristics: Kidney stones are benign lesions of the urinary system, mainly formed by deposition of urinary crystals, whereas kidney cancer is a malignant tumor caused by degeneration and abnormal changes of cells within the kidney parenchyma.
2. Different growth locations: Kidney stones typically develop in the collecting system of the kidney, such as the renal calyces and renal pelvis, while kidney cancer occurs within the kidney parenchyma.
3. Different pathogenic mechanisms: The formation of kidney stones is related to multiple factors including diet and metabolism, whereas kidney cancer develops due to genetic mutations in kidney cells.
4. Treatment and prognosis: Kidney stones can often be effectively treated and cured through conservative management, lithotripsy, or surgical treatment; however, kidney cancer requires early detection and early surgical intervention, with a relatively poorer prognosis.
