[Value of CAT staging in renal adenocarcinoma. Correlation with anatomo-pathologic findings]

On a total of 128 renal adenocarcinomas diagnosed in our Unit between January 1975 and August 1990, the data provided by CATs carried out in 85 of them was compared with that from surgical and anatomo-pathological findings. The precision in both the diagnosis and the tumour staging was determined, evaluating the involvement of perirenal, nodular, venous and neighbouring structures fat. The diagnosis of renal adenocarcinoma was made correctly in 96% cases. With regard to staging, maximal precision was achieved in the involvement of adjacent structures and vena cava, followed by the renal vein, perirenal fat and lymphatic nodes, in this order. We conclude that CAT provides a high diagnostic reliability, permitting with a single study the determination of the most defining parameters of renal cancer staging.