Kidney cancer · Guide
Kidney cancer explorer: guide
Show the kidneys within the body, enter the tumour’s position, growth and size from the report, explain the treatment and share a matching picture sheet.
For patients and families
Look at the picture together
The picture opens with the whole body. Choose Abdomen to see both kidneys at the back of the tummy, with the ureters running down to the bladder, then Kidney to move close. The bowel lies in front of the kidneys, so it is shown only from a distance. Drag to turn it and scroll or pinch to zoom.
Show what your team has found
Your clinician can enter which kidney, whether the tumour is at the top, middle or bottom, which surface it is on, how much of it grows out of the kidney and its size. The slice in the corner shows the same level as a CT scan would, seen from your feet. The shape is schematic, not a copy of your scan.
Things you could ask
“Can you show me where it is, using my report?”
“Could you keep part of my kidney?”
“How well will my kidneys work afterwards?”
Take it home
Ask for a picture sheet with the views you discussed, your team’s explanation, what the body part does and where to find help. A QR code reopens the same model settings on your phone. Names, notes and contact details are never included in that code or saved online.
For clinicians
Start with orientation
The explorer adds both kidneys, adrenal glands, ureters, bladder, aorta, vena cava and renal vessels, spine and lower ribs to the shared body, digestive tract, renderer and labels from the rectal explorer. It opens at normal anatomy with no tumour or treatment.
Set up from the report
| Control | What to set |
|---|---|
| Tumour on the model | Add one tumour. Changing a tumour setting also adds it. |
| Kidney | Right or left. The right kidney sits a little lower, under the liver. |
| Position and surface | Upper pole, middle or lower pole; anterior, posterior or lateral surface. |
| How it grows | Mostly inside the kidney (endophytic), partly outside, or mostly outside (exophytic), as described in the report. Proximity to the collecting system and nephrometry scores are not modelled. |
| Longest diameter | 5–150 mm. A tumour larger than the model kidney is drawn approximately, and the summary says so. |
Explain a selected plan
Partial nephrectomy and radical nephrectomy colour the tissue removed teal; After surgery shows what remains. Ablation shows the area treated; active surveillance is described in words. The team selects the plan. Systemic treatments, adrenalectomy, lymph node dissection and venous tumour thrombus are not modelled.
Picture sheet and QR code
Capture up to four views with Snapshot, then use Picture sheet (PDF). The sheet can include a help and support page. The QR link stores validated model settings only. Changing any model setting clears older snapshots.
Limits
- One tumour is illustrated. Venous extension, lymph nodes, distant spread and cystic features are not shown.
- The kidneys’ shape, position and vessels are schematic.
Sources and review
Practising urologist review is still needed for clinical teaching use. Please send corrections through feedback.