Morbilidad del carcinoma de células renales

24 medical histories of patients admitted in “carlos j. finlay” central military hospital with a diagnosis of renal cell carcinoma from january 1998 to december 2002 were reviewed to contribute to a better knowledge of the morbidity of this disease in our environment. there was a predominance of males in their sixth decade of life. lumbar pain was the chief symptom. ultrasound (us) and contrast-cat were the basic imaging means used for definite diagnosis. nephroctomy through the lumbar route was the surgical treatment applied in most of the patients. the intensive use of diagnostic us is recommended at the level of polyclinics in all patients over 50 years old, smokers or not, presenting with a diverse and non-specific symptomatology that makes us suspect of the presence of the “great simulator of medicine”.