Sonographic diagnosis of renal masses excluding simple cyst

ABSTRACT

Sonography is quite sensitive screening method for th detection of renal mass lesions, but the specificity isrelatively low. Authors analized the sonographic findings of the confirmed 67 cases of renal masses excludingsimple cyst for possible differential points between each other. The results were as follows: 1. Among the 67cases, 44 cases(65.7%) were tumorous lesions and majority were malignant tumors. 2. Iso or hyperechoic lesions arerelatively specific finding suggestive of the tumorous lesions. 83.3% of isoechoic lesions and 85.0% ofhyperechoic lesions were tumor. 3. Tumor echogenecity of the renal cell carcinoma was variable. Of the 23 renalcell carcinomas, 10 were isoechoic, 8 were hypoechoic and 5 were hyperechoic lesions. 4. In hypoechoic lesions,findings of acoustic enhancement and wall echo were suggestive of nontumorous lesion. 5. There was no directcorrelation between echogenecity of the mass and tumor vascularity. 6. IVP findings were not sensitive andnonspecific for renal mass lesions, so ultrasound could be the initial step of diagnostic modality for evaluationof the renal mass.