Both CT and MRI are comparable in the staging of the primary tumor [15,16]. Some of the advantages of CT include rapid acquisition time, and hence it is often the most commonly used modality for this indication. CT abdomen without and with IV contrast is typically performed for charactering a renal mass as RCC and staging the tumor. However, in patients with contraindications to iodinated contrast, only unenhanced CT may be possible, limiting the assessment. MRI abdomen may be useful in this setting, given the superior soft tissue resolution of MRI compared to unenhanced CT. Staging of Renal Cell Carcinoma CT Abdomen and Pelvis Preoperative imaging of RCC provides critical information on staging and serves as a roadmap to the surgeon. Both CT and MRI are comparable in the staging of the primary tumor [15,16]. Some of the advantages of CT include rapid acquisition time, and hence it is often the most commonly used modality for this indication. CT abdomen without and with IV contrast is typically performed for charactering a renal mass as RCC and staging the tumor. However, in patients with contraindications to iodinated contrast, only unenhanced CT may be possible. However, in patients with contraindications to iodinated contrast, only unenhanced CT may be possible, limiting the assessment. MRI abdomen may be useful in this setting, given the superior soft tissue resolution of MRI compared to unenhanced CT. There is no relevant literature with high-quality evidence regarding the use of CT of the pelvis in the staging of RCC. Although it is likely that CT pelvis may not offer additional information in most patients with early stage RCC, pelvic imaging can be helpful in patients with more advanced RCC, in whom metastatic spread is suspected [47,48]. If pelvic imaging is indicated in patients with contraindications to iodinated contrast, pelvic MRI may be preferred to unenhanced CT pelvis.
Staging of Renal Cell Carcinoma. Both CT and MRI are comparable in the staging of the primary tumor [15,16]. Some of the advantages of CT include rapid acquisition time, and hence it is often the most commonly used modality for this indication. CT abdomen without and with IV contrast is typically performed for charactering a renal mass as RCC and staging the tumor. However, in patients with contraindications to iodinated contrast, only unenhanced CT may be possible, limiting the assessment. MRI abdomen may be useful in this setting, given the superior soft tissue resolution of MRI compared to unenhanced CT. Staging of Renal Cell Carcinoma CT Abdomen and Pelvis Preoperative imaging of RCC provides critical information on staging and serves as a roadmap to the surgeon. Both CT and MRI are comparable in the staging of the primary tumor [15,16]. Some of the advantages of CT include rapid acquisition time, and hence it is often the most commonly used modality for this indication. CT abdomen without and with IV contrast is typically performed for charactering a renal mass as RCC and staging the tumor. However, in patients with contraindications to iodinated contrast, only unenhanced CT may be possible. However, in patients with contraindications to iodinated contrast, only unenhanced CT may be possible, limiting the assessment. MRI abdomen may be useful in this setting, given the superior soft tissue resolution of MRI compared to unenhanced CT. There is no relevant literature with high-quality evidence regarding the use of CT of the pelvis in the staging of RCC. Although it is likely that CT pelvis may not offer additional information in most patients with early stage RCC, pelvic imaging can be helpful in patients with more advanced RCC, in whom metastatic spread is suspected [47,48]. If pelvic imaging is indicated in patients with contraindications to iodinated contrast, pelvic MRI may be preferred to unenhanced CT pelvis.