Digital subtraction angiography in renal tumours

By their nature, more than 98 percent of renal tumours are malignant. Clinically, early symptoms of malignancy are difficult to detect. Because of this, treatment of tumorous formations in the kidneys still is unsatisfactory. In general diagnostic terms, angiographic study can play an important role as a preoperative method that more accurately defines the degree of the spread of cancer as well as the extent of renal vessel involvement in this process. The authors report their experience in performing digital subtraction angiography (DSA) in 39 patients with renal tumours. The advantages of the method are emphasized by a comparison of 38 intra-arterial digital subtraction renal vasographic studies and 11 cavographic studies with respect to reduced irradiation doses and contrast material. In addition, the method allows qualitative image processing and the performance of therapeutic procedures such as embolization, which was done in 17 patients.