Imaging for renal tumors

The present review summarizes current developments in the imaging of renal tumors.

Computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging, and ultrasound are used for diagnosing, characterizing, and staging renal tumors. Recent advances have been made in many areas, but the most significant changes have occurred in helical CT. The traditional roles for CT and magnetic resonance imaging have been expanded to include the use of three-dimensional CT and magnetic resonance imaging as surgical planning tools. Three-phase CT scans are commonly performed for detection, characterization, and staging of renal lesions, but pelvic CT is probably not needed for preoperative staging. Three-phase CT scans are more sensitive for characterization and for identifying the renal vasculature. Enhancement characteristics on these scans can help to distinguish between different tumor types. Finally, CT urography is a promising alternative to conventional excretory urography, with the potential to simplify the imaging evaluation of patients with hematuria.

Although ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging have many indications for imaging renal tumors, CT, with new uses and improved diagnostic capabilities, remains the gold standard in renal imaging.