ULTRASOUND LIMITS IN THE DETECTION OF LEF T SMALL RENAL-CANCER

Renal ultrasound seems to be more difficult on the left than on the ri ght side. In a retrospective analysis of 343 patients in whom a radica l nephrectomy for renal tumor diagnosed by abdominal ultrasonography h ad been carried out, we analyzed the characteristics of these tumors. TNM classification was used. Right kydney tumors (n = 170) were smalle r than the left ones (n = 172), 58 +/- 31,7 mm and 66,8 +/- 31,5 mm re spectively, the difference being statistically significant (p = 0,01). Right kidney tumors of a less advanced stage (p < 0,05). Asymptomatic renal tumors were found more frequently on the right side (58,7 %) th an on the left (41,3 %) (p = 0,03) and were smaller on the right (44 m m +/- 19,6 vs 54,5 mm +/- 27,2) (p = 0,04). In conclusion, Ultrasound exploration of the left kidney seems to be more difficult, mostly beca use the exploration of the right kidney is facilitated by the acoustic window of the liver.