Urologic Imaging of the Kidneys: Cancers and Mimics

Urol Clin North Am. 2025 Feb;52(1):75-89. doi: 10.1016/j.ucl.2024.07.009. Epub 2024 Aug 9.

Abstract

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is a growing problem in global oncology, with a steadily increasing incidence, especially in developed regions. Its different histologic subtypes present different challenges in diagnosis and management. Advanced imaging techniques have a crucial role in distinguishing between these subtypes by highlighting unique radiographic features such as exophytic growth patterns, cystic components, and enhancement patterns. Practical suggestions discussed in this review include using chemical shift MRI to differentiate fat-poor angiomyolipomas from RCC, recognizing specific imaging markers such as pseudo-capsule in papillary RCC, and understanding the implications of negative pixel count in computed tomography scans.

Keywords: Histologic subtypes; Imaging diagnosis; Renal cell carcinoma; Treatment strategies.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Angiomyolipoma / diagnostic imaging
  • Carcinoma, Renal Cell* / diagnostic imaging
  • Carcinoma, Renal Cell* / pathology
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Humans
  • Kidney Neoplasms* / diagnostic imaging
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging* / methods
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed*