[Echography in pyelocaliceal tumors]

In a study of over 32 pyelocaliceal tumors greater than 1 cm in diameter, the authors review retrospectively the reports of the pyelographic and sonographic documents obtained in these patients before the definitive diagnosis was confirmed by the pathological examination. They observed that pyelography has a much greater diagnostic accuracy than does sonography: 31 confirmed (27) or suspected (4) tumors whereas only one tumor was overlooked (silent kidney) on pyelography and 12 diagnosed tumors, 15 overlooked and 5 diagnostic errors on ultrasonography. However, it should be noted that the results of ultrasonography are much better when the results of the intravenous pyelogram are known than when the latter is performed first. These results are supported by triple-blind re-reading of ultrasonographic documents of tumors of the excretory tract grouped with documents of normal kidneys presenting another disease of the sinus. The authors conclude that ultrasonography must be performed first whenever a tumor of the excretory tract is suspected (especially in case of hematuria) and that in this field, there are essentially two indications for ultrasonography: --To remove a stone (hyperechogenic with a cone of shadow) if there is a pyelocaliceal lacuna of unknown cause. --To establish that obstruction is due to a tumor, in the presence of a silent kidney.