Tumors of the Urinary Tract

Purpose of ReviewA large number of ultrasound studies are being performed, yielding an increasing number of suspected unclear renal lesions, which then need further evaluation with CT or MRI scans. Contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) can give additional information about perfusion and solid part of a renal lesion.Recent FindingsWith the introduction of fast multi-slice CT scanners, even the whole body can be scanned in an early arterial phase. Thus, additional information about an unclear tumor, such as tumor perfusion, can be gathered. MRI with its imaging capabilities offers further information in the differentiation of renal lesions. Diffusion weighted imaging give additional information about the density of a lesion.SummaryMRI with new imaging modalities such as diffusion-weighted imaging and perfusion imaging, may also provide further information about a tumor beyond T1 and T2-weighted imaging. Fast CT scanners give information about the perfusion of a renal lesion.ConclusionModern surgical techniques such as nephron-sparing surgery demand high-quality imaging in the preoperative workup of renal lesions, as well as modern medical therapies, and the follow-up after nephron-sparing surgery needs reliable diagnostic information.