A kidney nodule is a swelling that grows on the kidney, including benign and malignant nodules. A renal nodule refers to an imaging finding of an abnormal structure within the kidney, and usually this abnormal structure refers to a kidney tumor. Common benign renal nodules include renal adenoma and renal eosinophilic cell tumor. Malignant renal nodules include renal cell carcinoma, nephroblastoma, renal pelvis carcinoma, and so on. In clinic, ultrasound examination, enhanced CT examination and nuclear magnetic resonance examination can be used to comprehensively identify the benign or malignant nature of renal nodules, and if it is still difficult to identify the benign or malignant nature of renal nodules through the above examinations, pathological examination can be used, which is the gold standard for determining the benignness or malignancy of tumors. Benign renal nodules usually do not require special treatment when there are no clinical symptoms, only observation and follow-up, and partial nephrectomy is feasible when abdominal discomfort and other symptoms occur. On the other hand, malignant renal nodules need to be treated as soon as they are detected, and patients with surgical indications should undergo radical nephrectomy to remove the tumors as early as possible to prevent further progression of the disease. Therefore, patients who have detected renal nodules should go to the hospital in time, improve the examination, clarify the nature of the nodule, and do the next step of treatment as soon as possible.