DIAGNOSIS OF RENAL-CARCINOMA IN ACQUIRED CYSTIC RENAL-DISEASE - USEFULNESS OF ECHOGRAPHY FOR ITS DETECTION IN SUBCLINICAL STAGE

BACKGROUND: The patients with end-stage renal disease on periodic hemodialysis often develop acquired cystic renal disease, and they have renal tumours more commonly than the normal population. METHODS: To evaluate the usefulness of echography for the evaluation of these lesions and the prevalence of acquired cystic renal disease and occult renal tumours in patients treated with hemodialysis during years, a prospective ultrasonographic study was carried out. To this end, renal echographic studies were performed in 43 asymptomatic patients treated with periodic hemodialysis during 5 years or more. Patients with renal polycystic disease were excluded from the study. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of acquired cystic renal disease was 86 %. It was higher in males (96 %) than in females (70 %). Two patients (4.6 %) had malignant renal tumours. CONCLUSIONS: In view of the high prevalence of tumours in acquired cystic renal disease, it is suggested that periodic echographic studies should be carried out in patients with end-stage renal disease treated with hemodialysis during years to detect renal carcinoma in subclinical stage.