Renal cell carcinoma associated with chronic renal failure: evaluation with sonographic angiography.

Abstract

To determine the value of sonographic angiography for diagnosis of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) in patients with chronic renal failure (CRF). The authors compared findings from sonographic angiography, conventional ultrasound (US), computed tomography (CT), and conventional angiography in 15 patients with CRF in whom RCC was suspected. All of these patients subsequently underwent nephrectomy. RCC was demonstrated pathologically in 13 patients, whereas two had benign lesions only. Sonographic angiography depicted tumor enhancement in all patients with RCC except one; no enhancement was shown in the two patients with benign lesions. Conventional angiography depicted tumors stained by contrast material in nine of 13 patients with RCC, and CT depicted tumor enhancement in 10 of 13 patients. US was useful for the detection of nodules but did not allow differentiation of malignant from benign lesions. Sonographic angiography has a possible role in the detection of small nodules in patients with CRF.