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Updated: Apr 11, 2026
In Vivo, Percutaneous, Needle Based, Optical Coherence Tomography of Renal Masses
Published on: March 30, 2015
Quantitative assessment of solid renal masses by contrast-enhanced ultrasound with time-intensity curves: how we do
Kevin G King1, Mittul Gulati2, Harshawn Malhi2
1Department of Radiology, Keck USC School of Medicine, 1500 San Pablo St, 2nd Floor Imaging, Los Angeles, CA, 90033, USA. kevingeorgeking@gmail.com.
Purpose:
To discuss the evaluation of the enhancement curve over time of the major renal cell carcinoma (RCC) subtypes, oncocytoma, and lipid-poor angiomyolipoma, to aid in the preoperative differentiation of these entities. Differentiation of these lesions is important, given the different prognoses of the subtypes, as well as the desire to avoid resecting benign lesions.
Methods:
We discuss findings from CT, MR, and US, but with a special emphasis on contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS). CEUS technique is described, as well as time-intensity curve analysis.
Results:
Examples of each of the major RCC subtypes (clear cell, papillary, and chromophobe) are shown, as well as examples of oncocytoma and lipid-poor angiomyolipoma. For each lesion, the time-intensity curve of enhancement on CEUS is reviewed, and correlated with the enhancement curve over time reported for multiphase CT and MR.
Conclusions:
Preoperative differentiation of the most common solid renal masses is important, and the time-intensity curves of these lesions show some distinguishing features that can aid in this differentiation. The use of CEUS is increasing, and as a modality it is especially well suited to the evaluation of the time-intensity curve.
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