Which type of carcinoma presents with flank pain, abdominal mass, and hematuria?

Enhance your knowledge with the Internal Medicine End of Rotation Exam. Challenge yourself with multiple-choice questions and detailed explanations to ensure you excel.

Renal cell carcinoma is characterized by a classic triad of symptoms: flank pain, abdominal mass, and hematuria. This type of cancer originates in the renal parenchyma and is often associated with an abdominal mass, which can be palpated during a physical examination or detected through imaging studies. Hematuria occurs due to the erosion of the tumor into the renal collecting system or the surrounding vasculature, leading to blood in the urine. Flank pain may result from local tumor growth or invasion into the surrounding structures.

While urothelial carcinoma (also known as transitional cell carcinoma) primarily affects the bladder and urinary tract and can also present with hematuria, it typically does not present with a palpable abdominal mass in the early stages. Prostate carcinoma, on the other hand, mainly affects the prostate gland and may lead to urinary symptoms, but flank pain and abdominal mass are less characteristic. Thus, renal cell carcinoma uniquely aligns with the described symptoms, making it the correct answer.

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