Staging of renal cell carcinoma by computed tomography

To evaluate the efficacy of computed tomography (CT) in the diagnostic workup of renal cell carcinoma, CT findings were correlated with surgical and pathological findings in 40 cases. Fifteen cases without obliteration of perinephric fat or thickening of Gerota's fascia were confined within the renal capsule. Eighteen lesions showing anatomic contact with adjacent organs were either within the renal capsule or Gerota's fascia but never beyond Gerota's fascia. Two cases (Stage II) showed thickening of Gerota's fascia and two cases (Stage IV) showed tumor infiltration into the spleen. Computed tomography was found to be a useful method for the investigation of tumor thrombosis and lymph node metastasis.