Venous extension of renal adencarcinoma

This paper investigates the ability of a limited flip-angle MR technique to detect venous extension of renal adenocarcinoma. Twenty-three patients with proved renal adenocarcinoma and suspected renal vein extension were studied at 1.5-T with gradient-recalled echo sequences supplemented with T1-and T2- weighted spin-echo images. The MR studies were reviewed and compared with surgical and pathologic findings. Tumor thrombus was detected in the main renal vein in 14 (61%) and in the inferior vena cava in 10 (44%) of these 23 patients. There was one false-positive and two false-negative findings for renal vein tumor (sensitivity, 87%: specificity, 90%). There were no false-negative or false-positive findings off inferior venal caval extension