PAEA Surgery End Of Rotation (EOR) Practice Exam

Which symptom is commonly associated with renal carcinoma?

1. Weight loss

2. Hematuria

3. Fever

4. Persistent cough

The correct answer is: Hematuria

Hematuria, or the presence of blood in urine, is a commonly associated symptom of renal carcinoma. This happens because the tumor can cause irritation or damage to the renal tissue or blood vessels, leading to bleeding that is then excreted in the urine. Hematuria can be one of the first signs that prompts further investigation, often leading to imaging studies that reveal the presence of a renal mass. Weight loss can occur in patients with renal carcinoma as the disease progresses; however, it is not as directly correlated as hematuria. Fever may be seen in cases of infection or systemic illness but is not a hallmark symptom of renal carcinoma itself. A persistent cough can arise from lung metastases but is not directly related to the primary kidney tumor. Thus, hematuria stands out as a key and common symptom in the context of renal carcinoma, solidifying its importance in clinical evaluation for kidney tumors.