Comparison between ultrasonography and computerized tomography in the identification of small-sized renal carcinomas.
OBJECTIVE
The increased detection of such small-sized carcinomas has brought a number of new problems regarding the surgical approach to be adopted. We review our experience with 34 patients with small-sized renal carcinomas, comparing the US and CT data with histological findings.


METHODS
In a series of 150 cases of renal carcinoma, small sized carcinomas were diagnosed in 34 patients. All patients were examined by US and CT.


CONCLUSIONS
Five patients presented bifocal carcinomas. CT identified 100% of the small-sized carcinomas, failing only to identify the smaller carcinomas measuring less than 1 cm in diameter in the bifocal carcinoma cases, whereas US identified only 78.3% of the cases. The authors, moreover, mention the problem of multifocal tumours as an argument against performing a partial nephrectomy in the presence of two normally functioning kidneys, and believe it is advisable to reserve such conservative surgery for a selected number of cases.
Prati
G F
GF
Divisione Clinicizzata di Chirurgia Generale, Ospedale Civile Maggiore, Verona, Italy.
Saggin
P
P
Boschiero
L
L
Muolo
A
A
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014463:Ultrasonography