Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is the commonest renal malignancy.  It classically presents with the triad of haemautria, pain and a flank mass, but in contemporary medicine this is rarely the case.  in fact, more than 50% of renal cell carcinomas are now identified on imaging investigations performed for other purposes.  

Renal cell carcinoma is usually avidly enhancing on contrast enhanced CT, as are its metastases.  In addition to locoregional nodes, the liver. lungs and bones are common sites for metastases.  RCC is one of the tumors causing cannonball metastases to the lungs and bone metastases are lytic and destructive. Renal cell carcinoma is the common primary to metastasize to the pancreas.