Arteriovenous shunting in carcinomas evaluated by a dye dilution technique

In 19 patients with renal carcinomas determination of the renal blood flow and related parameters were determined. In 10 of the kidneys the renal blood flow was higher than 1700 ml/min, in five kidneys the vascular volume was increased and in all kidneys the appearance time of dye in the renal vein was below normal. It is concluded that AV-shunting is present in all renal carcinomas even if they are hypovascularized or cystic. Underperfusion is supposed to be present in the normal renal parenchyma surrounding the carcinoma. The shunted amount of blood can be fairly large, in the present series up to 3 1/2 litre. The dye dilution technique is suitable for studies of the hemodynamics in renal carcinomas.