Transitional cell carcinoma ultrasound

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1];Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Suveenkrishna Pothuru, M.B,B.S. [2]

Overview

On ultrasound, transitional cell carcinoma is characterized by solid, hypoechoic mass located within the renal pelvis or within a dilated calyx.

Ultrasound

Ultrasound has a limited role to play in either diagnosis or staging transitional cell carcinoma of the urinary tract in general.
On ultrasound examination transitional cell carcinomas appear as solid, albeit hypoechoic masses located within the the renal pelvis or within a dilated calyx (also known as an oncocalyx).^[1]
In patients in whom ultrasound is technically difficult care must be taken to not interpret the hypoechoic mass as hydronephrosis.
Rarely transitional cell carcinoma with squamous metaplasia and abundant keratin formation appear echogenic and densely shadowing and may mimic a renal calculus.

References

Overview