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Author Spotlight: Developing a Bedside Protocol for Kidney and Genitourinary Ultrasonography
Published on: June 21, 2024
Abstract:
Renal masses are a common incidental finding in abdominal imaging. They typically are benign cysts but sometimes are kidney cancers-most frequently renal cell carcinoma (RCC) in adults. Alongside noncontrast computed tomography images, multiphase contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) supports rapid, accurate differentiation of renal cysts from potential kidney cancers and can help with lesion characterization, staging, and surgical planning. CECT also can help physicians assess RCC histology or tumor subtype. This article discusses the biology, genetics, diagnostic imaging, classification, and staging of renal masses, with an emphasis on CECT kidney imaging, renal cysts, and RCC.
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Computed Tomography
The technique was invented in the 1970s and is based on the principle that as X-rays pass through the body, they are absorbed or reflected at different levels. In the technique, a patient lies on a motorized platform while a computerized axial tomography (CAT) scanner rotates...

