A kidney mass is an abnormal growth in the kidney that may be cystic, solid, benign, or malignant.
Many kidney masses cause no symptoms and are found on scan. Some people may have blood in the urine, pain in the side or back, a swelling, unexplained weight loss, or fever.
Imaging helps determine whether the mass looks like a simple cyst, a more complex lesion, or something more suspicious that needs closer follow-up or treatment planning.
Ultrasound, CT, and MRI help describe whether the mass looks simple, complex, enhancing, or suspicious.
Management ranges from monitoring to biopsy, surgery, or cancer treatment depending on the imaging appearance and patient context.
This entry explains the finding. The next step is having a radiologist interpret your specific scan, not a general definition.
