Current MR Imaging of Renal Cell Carcinoma

(renal cell carcinoma) 90% , 4% (1). 25% . 30% (2). (computed tomography; CT) , . . , , . . CT . (American College of Radiology) (magnetic resonance imaging; MRI) CT (3). MRI CT (ionized radiation) , (contrast resolution) , . CT 2 cm MRI (4). MRI (protocol) T2 , (chemical-shift imaging) T1 , (fat suppression) T1 . (dynamic contrast enhancement) T1 (diffusion weighted imaging) (multiparametric) MRI ( mp-MRI) , . mp-MRI MRI . Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) consists of approximately 85–90% of renal masses, and its incidence is increasing due to widespread use of modern imaging modalities such as ultrasonography or computed tomography. Computed tomography has served an important role in the diagnosis and staging of RCC; however, recent advances in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques have considerably improved our ability to predict tumor biology beyond the morphologic assessment. Multiparametric MRI protocols include standard sequences tailored for the morphologic evaluation and acquisitions that provide information about the tumor microenvironment such as diffusion-weighted imaging and dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI. The role of multiparametric MRI in the evaluation of RCC now extends to preoperative characterization of RCC subtypes, histologic grade, and quantitative assessment of tumor response to targeted therapies in patients with metastatic disease. Herein, the clinical applications and recent advances in MRI applied to RCC are reviewed along with its merits and demerits. We aimed to review MRI techniques and image analysis that can improve the management of patients with RCC. Familiarity with the advanced MRI techniques and various imaging findings of RCC would also facilitate optimal clinical recommendations for patients. Index terms Renal Cell Carcinoma Magnetic Resonance Imaging