Ask a Doctor: I've been diagnosed with a kidney tumor. Do I need surgery?

Q: I was recently diagnosed with a kidney tumor. Do I need surgery? If so, what surgery should I choose?

A: The management of kidney tumors has come a long way in the past 10 years. With the use of robotic technology, more and more kidney tumors are able to be removed while sparing the kidney. The appropriate operation depends on numerous things, including tumor size, complexity and a patient's medical conditions. It is important to know there is not a one-size-fits-all approach for kidney tumors. In fact, some tumors don't need to be treated at all.

— Dr. Jeffrey Mullins, CHI Memorial Chattanooga Urology Associates; member, Chattanooga-Hamilton County Medical Society