[Diagnostic imaging in cancer therapy: the genito-urinary system]

Diagnostic approach of the tumors of the genitourinary system with multiple imaging modalities was described. The way of staging of the diseases was emphasized. Angiography has been used for diagnosis of renal and renal pelvic tumors, but CT and ultrasonography are more useful than angiography for evaluation of the extension of the disease into the perirenal or pararenal space as well as detection of lymph-node metastasis. Invasion into the renal vein or the interior vena cava is also demonstrated by those new modalities. They are also useful for post-operative follow up. For the staging of the bladder tumor, transurethral ultrasonography or CT are useful, as they can detect the extravesical infiltration of the diseases. Bone scintigraphy is more effective in detection of bony metastasis, which is essential for staging of prostatic carcinoma. Although transurethral ultrasonography is more useful in the evaluation of the extension of the prostatic carcinoma, when the extension is advanced CT is better than ultrasonography. CT is also effective for diagnosis of bony metastasis.