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Visualisation of focal renal lesions on ultrasound: A review of 518 lesions with contrast CT correlation
Author(s) -
Wylie Blanche,
Necas Martin,
Heaney Aine
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
australasian journal of ultrasound in medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2205-0140
pISSN - 1836-6864
DOI - 10.1002/ajum.12231
Subject(s) - medicine , ultrasound , malignancy , radiology , contrast enhanced ultrasound , lesion , contrast (vision) , kidney , pathology , artificial intelligence , computer science
Conventional ultrasound (US) is a common imaging investigation of the kidneys; however, the current diagnostic performance of US in the visualisation of focal renal lesions is unknown. Methods This study was a retrospective sequential review of 518 focal renal lesions (FRLs) in 200 patients aged 50 years or older who received an US of the kidneys followed by contrast‐enhanced computed tomography (CECT). Results Patient’s age ranged from 50 to 94 years. The majority were hospital inpatients. 518 FRLs were identified on CECT ranging from 3 to 165 mm (median 8 mm). The majority of FRLs (96.1%) were benign. The visualisation rate of FRLs on US was size‐dependent: <5 mm, 10.2%; 5–9 mm, 22.3 mm; 10–14 mm, 48.0%; 15–19 mm, 82.1%; and 20–24 mm, 100%. The visualisation of simple cysts was 49.1% and hyperdense lesions 81.8%. Follow‐up was available on 58% of lesions. Benign lesions generally remained stable. Seven patients had concerning heterogeneous hyperdense masses on CECT, and US had visualised six of these (85.7%). Conclusion Visualisation of FRLs is size‐dependent. High rate of visualisation is achieved once the lesion exceeds 15 mm in size. Small FRLs are associated with a low rate of visualisation on ultrasound; however, they are rarely concerning. Hyperdense lesions on CECT that carry high suspicion of malignancy are associated with a high rate of US visualisation.