How accurate is angiographic staging of renal carcinoma?

Angiographic interpretations were compared with the pathologic findings of 75 patients undergoing nephrectomy for renal carcinoma. Angiography correctly predicted the clinical stage in only 36 per cent of the cases. This failure rate was attributed to the lack of consistent radiologic criteria for determining invasion of the perinephric fat, renal vein, and extension to regional lymph nodes.