Differentiating mixed epithelial and stromal tumor family from predominantly cystic renal cell carcinoma using...

To differentiate mixed epithelial and stromal tumor family (MESTF) of the kidney from predominantly cystic renal cell carcinoma (RCC) using the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based Bosniak classification system version 2019 (v2019).

The study included 36 consecutive patients with MESTF and 77 with predominantly cystic RCC who underwent preoperative renal MRI. One radiologist evaluated and documented the clinical and MRI characteristics (age, sex, laterality, R.E.N.A.L. Nephrometry Score [RNS], surgical approach, the signal intensity on T₂-weighted imaging, restricted diffusion and enhancement features in corticomedullary phase). Blinded to clinical and pathological information, another two radiologists independently evaluated Bosniak category of all masses. Interobserver agreement based on Bosniak classification system v2019 was measured by the weighted Cohen/Conger's Kappa coefficient. Furthermore, predominantly cystic RCCs and MESTFs were divided into low (categories I, II, and IIF) and high-class (categories III, and IV) tumors. The independent sample t test (Mann-Whitney U test) or Pearson Chi-square test (Fisher's exact probability test) was utilized to compare clinical and imaging characteristics between MESTFs and predominantly cystic RCCs. The performance of the Bosniak classification system v2019 in distinguishing MESTF from predominantly cystic RCC was investigated via receiver operating characteristic curve analysis.

MESTF and predominantly cystic RCC groups significantly differed in terms of age, lesion size, RNS, restricted diffusion, and obvious enhancement in corticomedullary phase, but not sex, laterality, surgical approach, and the signal intensity on T₂WI. Interobserver agreement was substantially based on the Bosniak classification system v2019. There were 24 low-class tumors and 12 high-class tumors in the MESTF group. Meanwhile, 13 low-class tumors and 64 high-class tumors were observed in the predominantly cystic RCC group. The distribution of low- or high-class tumors significantly differed between the MESTF and predominantly cystic RCC groups. Bosniak classification system v2019 had excellent discrimination (cutoff value = category III), and an area under curve value was 0.81; accuracy, 80.5%; sensitivity, 87.0%; and specificity, 66.7%.

The MRI-based Bosniak classification system v2019 can effectively distinguish MESTF from predominantly cystic RCC if category III was used as a cutoff reference.