title: Renal masses: value of duplex Doppler ultrasound in the differential diagnosis.
abstract: In a prospective study, 84 nonanechoic renal masses were examined with duplex Doppler ultrasound with a 3.5 mHz. transducer. This study included malignant lesions in 49 cases (30 renal carcinomas, 9 metastases, 8 lymphomas and 2 sarcomas) and benign lesions in 35 (18 complicated cysts, 6 inflammatory processes, 5 columns of Bertin, 3 angiomyolipomas and 3 hematomas). We analyzed whether duplex Doppler ultrasound can have a role in the differential diagnoses of these solid renal masses. Renal carcinomas demonstrated Doppler shifts of 2.5 kHz. or more in 23 cases (77%). These masses had significantly higher Doppler shifts than all of the other malignant masses (p < 0.001). Among the benign lesions the Doppler shifts were less than 2.5 kHz. in 33 cases (84%). The 2 masses with a Doppler shift of more than 2.5 kHz. in this group were inflammatory lesions. Detection of a Doppler shift of 2.5 or greater in a renal mass supports suspicion of a renal cell carcinoma, although an inflammatory process may also produce such a high Doppler shift. Doppler shifts of less than 2.5 kHz. in solid renal masses support the diagnoses of a benign lesion and a malignant lesion other than renal cell carcinoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Dr. Daniël den Hoed Cancer Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kuijpers
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Kruyt
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Oudkerk
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014463:Ultrasonography