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Renal cell carcinoma MRI

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Farima Kahe M.D. [2]

Overview

Renal MRI may be helpful in the diagnosis of renal cell carcinoma. Due to the use of IV gadolinium in MRI, the risk of nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF) must always be considered.

MRI

Renal MRI may be helpful in the diagnosis of renal cell carcinoma. Due to the use of IV gadolinium in MRI, the risk of nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF) must always be considered. It is a rare condition and often has cutaneous manifestations, but may affect any organ. Risk factors for development of NSF include:.[1][2][3]


Use of MRI in Renal Cell Carcinoma[1]
Patient Profile Use of MRI Evidence Strength
Low Risk Patient (pT1, N0, Nx) Baseline abdominal MRI (or CT) for nephron sparing surgery and CT (or US or MRI) for radical nephrectomy within 3-12 months following renal surgery

Additional MRI (or US or CT) may be performed in patients following radical nephrectomy if initial post-op baseline image is negative
Expert opinion

C
Moderate to High Risk Patients (pT2-4N0 Nx or any stage N+) Baseline chest and abdominal MRI (or CT) within 3-6 months following surgery with continued imaging (US, CXR, CT, or MRI) every 6 months for at least 3 years and annually thereafter to 5 years. Site specific imaging is warranted by clinical symptoms suggestive of recurrence or metastatic spread. Imaging (US, CXR, CT, or MRI) beyond 5 years may be performed at the discretion of the clinician C
Active surveillance Cross-sectional abdominal scanning (CT or MRI) within 6 months of active surveillance initiation to establish a growth rate. Further imaging is recommended at least annually thereafter C
Ablation Patients undergo cross-sectional CT or MRI with and without IV contrast unless contraindicated at 3 and 6 months following ablative therapy to assess treatment success. Annual abdominal CT or MRI should follow for 5 years. Individual MRI (or CT) beyond 5 years is based on individual patient risk factors C
Adapted from Donat SM et al. Follow-up for clinically localized renal neoplasms: AUA guideline. J Urol. 2013; 190(2):407-16.
MRI showing renal cell carcinoma source:Case courtesy of Dr Ian Bickle, Radiopaedia.org, rID: 24135


MRI showing renal cell carcinoma source:Case courtesy of Dr Ian Bickle, Radiopaedia.org, rID: 24135


References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Donat SM, Diaz M, Bishoff JT, Coleman JA, Dahm P, Derweesh IH; et al. (2013). “Follow-up for Clinically Localized Renal Neoplasms: AUA Guideline”. J Urol. 190 (2): 407–16. doi:10.1016/j.juro.2013.04.121. PMID 23665399.
  2. Sankineni S, Brown A, Cieciera M, Choyke PL, Turkbey B (March 2016). “Imaging of renal cell carcinoma”. Urol. Oncol. 34 (3): 147–55. doi:10.1016/j.urolonc.2015.05.020. PMID 26094171.
  3. Ravaud, Alain; Motzer, Robert J.; Pandha, Hardev S.; George, Daniel J.; Pantuck, Allan J.; Patel, Anup; Chang, Yen-Hwa; Escudier, Bernard; Donskov, Frede; Magheli, Ahmed; Carteni, Giacomo; Laguerre, Brigitte; Tomczak, Piotr; Breza, Jan; Gerletti, Paola; Lechuga, Mariajose; Lin, Xun; Martini, Jean-Francois; Ramaswamy, Krishnan; Casey, Michelle; Staehler, Michael; Patard, Jean-Jacques (2016). “Adjuvant Sunitinib in High-Risk Renal-Cell Carcinoma after Nephrectomy”. New England Journal of Medicine. 375 (23): 2246–2254. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa1611406. ISSN 0028-4793.

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