Patrick Linson, MD, MPH, DABR
Kidney tumors
Focused treatment and what to expect
Dr. Linson’s Patient Resource and Education Library
Kidney tumors
Consultation preparation, education and support resources for this diagnosis.
← All patient resourcesPreparing for Your Consultation
To make the consultation as useful as possible, the care team may need the following information before scheduling. Requirements vary by diagnosis and should be confirmed with the office.
- Referral: Provider referral or self-referral
- Medical records: Recent oncology and specialist notes, relevant procedure notes, treatment history—including records of any previous radiation therapy—and a current medication list.
- Imaging: Relevant images and radiology reports.
- Pathology: Pathology report and, when requested, slides or tissue information.
- Other information: Photo ID, insurance cards, and identification cards for any implanted electronic devices.
Please have the referring office confirm that required records were received before the consultation is scheduled.
Patient Education Materials
Patient Education & Research
SBRT for Primary Renal Cell Carcinoma
Focused, noninvasive radiation for selected primary kidney cancers.
← Back to diagnosis resourcesOverview
Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT), also called stereotactic ablative body radiotherapy (SABR), delivers a highly focused radiation dose to a kidney tumor in a small number of treatments while limiting dose to nearby bowel, spinal cord and functioning kidney tissue.
Surgery remains an important standard treatment for localized renal cell carcinoma. SBRT may be considered for selected patients who are medically inoperable, are at high surgical risk, or decline surgery after multidisciplinary review. Tumor size and location, kidney function, a solitary kidney, prior treatment and overall health all affect whether SBRT is appropriate.
Published prospective and pooled studies report high rates of local tumor control, but kidney function can decline and uncommon serious side effects may occur. Treatment requires individualized planning, motion management, image guidance and long-term imaging and kidney-function follow-up.
Research and Clinical Guidelines
Important: This information is for patient education only and does not replace an individualized recommendation from the care team.
Other Helpful Resources
Practical guidance and updates will be added over time.