Kevin R. Loughlin, MD, MBA, Consulting Editor

Theodore Woodward, MD, a professor at the University of Maryland, is credited with telling his medical interns in the 1940s, “When you hear hoofbeats behind you, don’t expect to see a zebra.”1

Available at: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zebra_(medicine). Accessed December 13, 2022.

By 1960, it was widely quoted throughout the medical profession. The phrase delivered the message that, “Common things occur commonly,” and has been part of medical dogma for decades.

However, renal cancers have traditionally been recognized as exceptions to that rule. Renal cancers have been referred to as “The Great Masquerader” or “The Internist’s Tumor” and can be elusive to diagnose. At the same time that we recognize the challenges of diagnosing renal cancers, Drs Blute and Chang have provided us with a wonderful resource of the latest recommendations by recognized experts on the diagnosis, management, and prognosis of renal cell carcinoma.

The topics covered in this issue of Urologic Clinics of North America include imaging, pathologic classification, biomarkers, the role of renal mass biopsy, surgery, adjuvant and neoadjuvant therapy, and immunotherapy as part of the treatment armamentarium for renal malignancy.

Renal cancer remains a significant challenge to treating physicians. The good news is when a zebra is discovered, we can rely on the information contained in this excellent issue to guide treatment.

References

Available at: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zebra_(medicine). Accessed December 13, 2022.

Differential diagnosis.

3rd edition. W.B. Saunders, Philadelphia: 15Article infoIdentification

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ucl.2023.02.001

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© 2023 Published by Elsevier Inc.

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