Definition

A type of kidney cancer that forms in the lining of the tiny tubes in the kidney that return filtered substances that the body needs back to the blood and remove extra fluid and waste as urine. Most papillary tumors look like long, thin finger-like growths under a microscope. There are two types of papillary kidney cancer: type 1 and type 2. Type 1 tends to grow slowly and spread to other parts of the body less often than type 2. Patients with a genetic disorder called hereditary papillary renal cancer have an increased risk of type 1 papillary kidney cancer. Patients with a genetic disorder called hereditary leiomyomatosis and renal cell cancer have an increased risk of type 2 papillary kidney cancer. Also called papillary renal cell carcinoma and PRCC.