COMPUTED-TOMOGRAPHY AFTER ENUCLEATION OF RENAL TUMORS

Two weeks to 120 months after enucleation of renal tumours the postope rative defects were correctly localized by renal computed tomography i n 34 patients. Typical defect morphology was either wedge-shaped or co ncave. No dependence on tumour localization, tumour size, operative te chnique or a certain surgeon was observed. The cortical defects were s maller (mean 2.0 cm) than the original, prominent tumours (mean 3.4 cm ). In small defects without tension suture of the capsule is sufficien t, leading to minor defects. Larger defects were closed with a retrope ritoneal or free peritoneal fat flap resulting in larger residual defe cts. In case of intra- or postoperative bleeding, CT could demonstrate parenchymatous or perirenal haematomas or delayed perfusion of adjace nt parenchyma. In one patient a recurrent tumour was correctly diagnos ed, different postoperative complications (such as abscesses) were not observed.