The authors correlated the radiologic and pathologic findings of 36 patients with small renal cell carcinoma (less than or equal to 3 cm in diameter). Tumors were discovered incidentally or by means of mass surveys with ultrasound (US). Computed tomography (CT) and angiography were performed before surgery. Of the 36 tumors, 24 were of solid (alveolar) architecture, five were of papillary architecture, three were of tubular architecture, and four were of multilocular cystic architecture. Cell arrangement was closely correlated with radiologic appearance, especially in regard to tumor vascularity and echogenicity. Histologically homogeneous tumors of solid architecture were hypoechoic at US and hypervascular at angiography and contrast medium-enhanced CT. Tumors of papillary, tubular, and multilocular cystic architecture were hyperechoic at US and hypovascular at angiography. There was no correlation of cell differentiation and cell architecture with echogenicity or tumor vascularity. Tumors with hemorrhage showed marked hyperattenuation at CT. A tumor capsule was observed in 25 patients (69%); this was demonstrated as a rim at US or angiography.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.