Clinical- pathological features and surgical outcome of renal cell carcinoma: Experience from a zonal referral hospital-northern of Tanzania

Background: Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is the most common primary malignant tumour of kidney in adults. Recent studies from developed countries have shown that most renal tumour are currently diagnosed incidentally during screening for other disease which leads to better prognosis while few studies done in Africa still shows significant proportion of patients present with classic triad ( >10%) which is a sign of advanced disease.

Objectives: This study aimed at determining clinical pathological feature and outcome of RCC in Northern zone of Tanzania.

Patients and Methods: This was a hospital based descriptive retrospective cohort study conducted at Kilimanjaro Christian Medical (KCMC) from January 2002 to December 2017. Data were analysed using statistical package for social science (SPSS) version 16. 0 and summarized in tables and figures.

Results: Forty three patients (43) underwent radical nephrectomy for RCC during the study period. Male to female ratio was1. 7: 1 with mean age of 53+/- 12 years. Flank pain (84%), abdominal mass (76%) and hematuria (44%) were the most common clinical presentation while classical triad was found in 40%. The most common clinical tumor stage was T3(72. 1%) whilst clear cell carcinoma was the commonest histological pattern. Five years survival length for T1, T2, T3 and T4 were 100%, 62. 5%, 32. 3% and 0% respectively.

Conclusion: The most common presenting symptom of RCC in our centre is flank pain, and abdominal mass. Majority of the patients presented with advanced disease with less than five year survival rate. Clear cell type was the predominant histological type.