Background

Renal cell carcinoma is usually a single tumor inside a kidney; however, sometimes tumors occur in more than one part of the kidney or in both kidneys. Renal cell carcinoma is classified into subtypes, based mostly on how the cancer cells appear under a microscope.

Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma

According to the American Cancer Society, clear cell renal cell carcinoma is the most common renal cancer, occurring in about 80 percent of people with renal cell carcinoma.

Papillary Renal Cell Carcinoma

About 10 percent to 15 percent of people have papillary renal cell carcinoma, which forms small finger-like projections (called papillae) in some of the tumor.

Chromophobe Renal Cell Carcinoma

About 5 percent of renal cancers are chromophobe renal cell carcinoma. The cells of this cancer are pale, like the clear cell carcinoma, but much larger with other recognizable features.

Rare Renal Cell Carcinomas

Collecting duct renal cell carcinoma is rare. Its major feature is that the cancer cells can form irregular tubes. In other rare instances, renal cell cancers are unclassified because their appearance doesn't fit into any category or because they have more than one type of cell.

Source:

What Is Kidney Cancer (Adult) - Renal Cell Carcinoma?

More Information:

Kidney Cancer