Ultrasonic assessment of renal transitional cell carcinoma: preliminary report

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Abstract
The value of uftrasound in determining the etiology of nonopaque filling defects seen in the renal pelvis at intrave- nous urography is under study. The ultrasound findings in three patients with proven transitional cell carcinoma of the kidney were similar and consisted of separation of the central renal echo complex by a region of low-intensity echoes. This pattern is distinct from characteristically echogenic none- paque renal calculi and anechoic hydronephrosis. Renal col- lecting system blood clots may have an echo pattern similar to collecting system tumors, but can usually be distinguished by their mobility and transitory nature. Further investigation into the specificity and sensitivity of the uftrasonic diagnosis of renal collecting system masses is underway. Nonopaque filling defects in the renal pelvocalyceal system present a diagnostic problem. A noninvasive diagnostic method which could help distinguish urothe- hal transitional cell or squamous cell tumors from clot or nonopaque stones would be of significant value. To assess the value of ultrasound in this clinical situation, we scan all patients with nonopaque filling defects in the renal pelvocalyceal system. This report details our initial experience with three patients with proven transitional cell carcinoma of the renal pelvis. The ultrasonic findings differ from our experience with nine proven cases of nonopaque stones (1). Comparison with two cases of pelvocalyceal system blood clots was also done.

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