People who develop kidney stones show approximately twice the risk of developing kidney cancer compared with those without kidney stones, with the relationship observed across patient subgroups, results from a systematic review and meta-analysis show.

“These findings highlight the importance of enhanced cancer surveillance in patients with a history of kidney stones and suggest the need for further research into shared pathophysiologic mechanisms and potential preventative strategies,” reported the authors of the study published in the Canadian Urological Association Journal.

Kidney stone disease, which affects approximately 10% of adults at some point in their lifetime, has been linked to an increased risk for chronic kidney disease (CKD), urinary tract infections, and kidney cancer. The latter is of notable concern, as kidney cancer is considered the most aggressive of urologic cancers, with a 5-year mortality rate of 22%, the authors noted.

Source: MEDspace