Comparing role of USG and CT scan in Evaluation of Renal Masses.

Renal masses can be detected on USG and CT scan with USG is usually the initial modality which picks up any mass in the kidney while CT scan is preferred imaging modality for renal tumours and its staging and it is also helpful in diagnosis of previously undetected masses and small masses. To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of USG and CT scan for detection of renal masses. 50 patients were selected for the study for which they underwent USG and CT scan examination after explaining the entire procedure and the risks involved. In our study of 50 patients, simple renal cyst was the most common renal mass encountered while renal cell carcinoma was the commonest malignant renal mass encountered followed by Wilm’s tumour. Renal cell carcinoma was the commonest primary renal parenchymal tumour in adults while Wilm’s tumour was the commonest primary renal parenchymal tumour in the first decade of life. ADPKD, RCC, Wilm’s tumor and renal lymphoma were common in males while renal abscess were common in females. All the cases of Wilm’s tumor and squamous cell carcinoma had solitary lesions while most of the cases of renal abscess showed multiple lesions in the kidneys. Renal angiomyolipoma showed multiple intraparenchymal lesions in both kidneys as seen in cases of renal lymphoma and ADPKD. Renal angiomyolipomas were easily diagnosed due to presence of characteristic CT value of fat in these lesions. As imaging modality both USG and CT scan are equally accurate in most of the cases except in cases of angiomyolipoma, renal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma as in angiomyolipoma and renal cell carcinoma, CT is more accurate for diagnosis and for squamous cell carcinoma, both the modalities were not effective in diagnosis. CT is more accurate for detecting various features of renal cell carcinoma needed for preoperative staging like perinephric extension, invasion of adjacent organs, renal vein and IVC thrombosis.