Renal cell carcinoma
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scans provide an image of the soft tissues in the body using radio waves and strong magnets. MRI can be used instead of CT if the patient exhibits an allergy to the contrast media administered for the test. Sometimes prior to the MRI scan, an intravenous injection of a contrasting material called gadolinium is given to allow for a more detailed image. Patients on dialysis or those who have renal insufficiency should avoid this contrasting material as it may induce a rare, yet severe, side effect known as nephrogenic systemic fibrosis. A bone scan or brain imaging is not routinely performed unless signs or symptoms suggest potential metastatic involvement of these areas.
MRI scans should also be considered to evaluate tumour extension which has grown in major blood vessels, including the vena cava, in the abdomen. MRI can be used to observe the possible spread of cancer to the brain or spinal cord should the patient present symptoms that suggest this might be the case.
Optical coherence elastography
Requiring no injections, OCE is an non-invasive imaging method can gives more details than ultrasound or MRI. Using light source to image biological tissue, OCE is considered generally safe compared to CT scan and other radiographic imaging modalities which involve with ionizing radiation. And it is also more affordable and time efficient compared to MRI. However, OCE can also cause tissue damage in some handling. For example, surface acoustic wave OCE can cause to a tissue is primarily concentrated on temperature effects. In the focus point, the temperature of the tissue will rise locally. Therefore, it is necessary to take this into account in certain circumstances.