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Updated: Jun 16, 2026

Magnetic Resonance Imaging Assessment of Carcinogen-induced Murine Bladder Tumors
Published on: March 29, 2019
Gadolinium enhanced magnetic resonance urography for upper urinary tract malignancy
Naoki Takahashi1, James F Glockner, Robert P Hartman
1Department of Radiology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota 55905, USA. takahashi.naoki@mayo.edu
Gadolinium enhanced magnetic resonance urography accurately detects upper urinary tract tumors. This imaging technique shows high sensitivity and specificity for identifying malignancy, aiding in diagnosis.
Area of Science:
- Radiology
- Urologic Oncology
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Upper urinary tract tumors are rare but serious conditions.
- Accurate detection is crucial for timely diagnosis and treatment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance urography (GEMRU) for detecting upper urinary tract tumors.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 91 GEMRU studies in patients with suspected upper tract malignancy.
- Image review by two independent radiologists assessing tumor presence in specific urinary tract regions.
- Calculation of sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy.
Main Results:
- Overall accuracy for reviewer 1 was 93.7% and for reviewer 2 was 91.7%.
- Excluding patients with ureteral stents or nephrostomy tubes improved accuracy, reaching 97.7% for reviewer 1.
- High specificity (over 96%) was consistently observed for both reviewers.
Conclusions:
- Gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance urography is a highly accurate imaging modality for detecting upper urinary tract malignancies.
- GEMRU demonstrates significant potential in the diagnosis of urothelial cancers.
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