Recent advances in cross-sectional renal imaging-an oncologic perspective: the current concepts and the future challenges.

Renal imaging remains a critical tool to differentiate and manage benign from malignant renal disorders. Conventional multidetector computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance (MR) provide great anatomical details, although lack functional information and specificity. The lack of resolution undermines the functional capabilities of nuclear medicine imaging. Functional MR imaging has shown strong utility in imaging of renal masses, with evolving techniques such as diffusion, perfusion, and blood oxygen level-dependent sequences. At the same time, newer techniques like dual-energy CT and CT perfusion are also showing promise in renal oncologic imaging.This article will discuss the recent advances in MR imaging and CT techniques pertaining to renal oncological applications.