[Significance of ultrasonography in detecting renal cell carcinoma]

Eighty-one cases of renal cell carcinoma in last twelve years (1975-1987) have been reviewed and examinations contributing to initial diagnosis of renal cell carcinoma were studied retrospectively. In earlier 5 years from 1975 to 1980, ultrasonography less contributed to detection of renal cell carcinoma than computed tomography. Conversely in the last 3 years from 1984 to 1987, the number of cases were detected by ultrasonography. Since ultrasonography is useful diagnosing renal cell carcinoma of various growth patterns and can detect small space occupying lesions, recently ultrasonography has become a routine examination, and a chance of detecting incidental renal cell carcinoma has been increasing. Ultrasonography should be made at first for screening of renal cell carcinoma.