OBJECTIVES: To establish the role of CT scan as a reliable and effective method in the diagnosis of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and to report the experience with this radiological test at the Manuel Fajardo Hospital. METHODS: 29 patients with the diagnosis of RCC who underwent CT scan during the period between January 1992 and December 2002 were evaluated. All patients were preoperatively classified as stages I to IV by CT scan. Tumor stage was confirmed by surgical findings and pathology report, and matched with preoperative CT scan evaluation in all cases. RESULTS: 29 patients with the diagnosis of RCC were treated, 65.5% were males and 34.5% females between 48 and 73 years of age. In 100% of the tumors were confirmed by ultrasound (US) and CT scan, and their limits were well defined. CT scan detected regional lymph nodes in 3.4% of the patients, distant lung metastases in two patients (6.8%) and bone metastases in one (3.4%). Preoperative study showed a tumor limited within the kidney in 72.3% of the patients, not exceeding Gerota's fascia in 17.2%, and extending outside Gerota's fascia in 10.3%. All patients underwent radical nephrectomy through an anterior approach and CT scan precision was confirmed, being quite similar to that of the surgical procedure. CONCLUSIONS: CT scan with or without contrast is the most precise method of diagnostic confirmation and staging currently available, achieving 100 percent of the diagnosis in comparison with other diagnostic modalities.
OBJECTIVES: To establish the role of CT scan as a reliable and effective method in the diagnosis of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and to report the experience with this radiological test at the Manuel Fajardo Hospital. METHODS: 29 patients with the diagnosis of RCC who underwent CT scan during the period between January 1992 and December 2002 were evaluated. All patients were preoperatively classified as stages I to IV by CT scan. Tumor stage was confirmed by surgical findings and pathology report, and matched with preoperative CT scan evaluation in all cases. RESULTS: 29 patients with the diagnosis of RCC were treated, 65.5% were males and 34.5% females between 48 and 73 years of age. In 100% of the tumors were confirmed by ultrasound (US) and CT scan, and their limits were well defined. CT scan detected regional lymph nodes in 3.4% of the patients, distant lung metastases in two patients (6.8%) and bone metastases in one (3.4%). Preoperative study showed a tumor limited within the kidney in 72.3% of the patients, not exceeding Gerota's fascia in 17.2%, and extending outside Gerota's fascia in 10.3%. All patients underwent radical nephrectomy through an anterior approach and CT scan precision was confirmed, being quite similar to that of the surgical procedure. CONCLUSIONS: CT scan with or without contrast is the most precise method of diagnostic confirmation and staging currently available, achieving 100 percent of the diagnosis in comparison with other diagnostic modalities.