Can Angiography stage Renal Carcinoma ?

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Abstract
We have compared the staging of renal carcinomas in 36 patients as judged preoperatively by angiography (T stage) and postoperatively by histopathology (P stage). Using the standard abdominal aortogram and selective renal arteriogram we found a considerable error rate in T staging (40%). The commonest error was preoperative overstaging, and this is probably determined by the behaviour of renal carcinoma, rather than by inadequate angiography. We conclude that whilst renal arteriography remains a useful diagnostic aid, it cannot answer questions on tumour extent with any accuracy. Staging by histopathology is essential for proper assessment and management of these patients.