Renal masses - Evaluation by amplitude coded colour Doppler sonography andmultiphasic contrast-enhanced CT

Objective: To assess the efficacy of amplitude coded colour Doppler US (aCD S) in the evaluation of renal masses as shown by multiphasic contrast-enhan ced CT. Material and Methods: Eighty patients (155 kidneys) with suspicion of renal masses underwent aCDS and spiral CT. The findings were classified into nor mal kidneys, kidneys with tumours, kidneys with cysts, and those with "othe r findings" (i.e, bleeding, calcifications, inflammation, parenchymal hyper trophy). The aCDS findings were compared to CT results and to histological findings or clinical, laboratory and follow-up data. Results: Eighteen renal cell carcinomas and 8 other tumours were found; 78 kidneys had cysts, 12 polycystic kidneys and 10 fibrotic kidneys were detec ted, 20 kidneys showed other findings. Diagnostic aCDS data were obtained i n 129 kidneys (83.2%) showing pathology with an accuracy of 94%. CT adequat ely showed pathology in all patients with some diagnostic uncertainty in th e evaluation of complicated cysts. Conclusion: Though contrast-enhanced multiphasic spiral CT is the method of choice for evaluating renal masses, US including aCDS can provide valuable information, particularly in differentiating vascularized from non-vascula rized lesions and in the evaluation of complicated renal cysts.