Predictive Features of Pre-operative Computed Tomography and Magnetic Resonance Imaging for Advanced Disease in Renal Cell Carcinoma

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is one of the most common urinary system cancers and accounts for 3% of all cancers. With the frequent use of imaging methods most renal masses are detected localized. The standard treatment option in localized RCC is radical nephrectomy (RN) or nephron-sparing surgery (NSS). NSS is preferred when appropriate in patients with tumor stage 1 (T1) and has been shown to be comparable to RN in terms of oncologic outcomes. Although there is no prospective randomized study comparing NSS with RN in terms of oncological and renal functions in T2 patients, there are retrospective studies conducted to date. According to the current European urology guideline, the standard approach in patients with T2 and above is RN. Pre-operative clinical staging is performed with computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and patients may develop local recurrence despite surgical procedures based on clinical stage. Pre-operative the patient and in the management of local disease. In clinical practice, pre-operative CT and MRI provide information about tumor size, tumor localization, presence of tumor invasion into vascular structures and adjacent organs. However, apart from these frequently reported findings, there are CT and MRI findings that can be used to predict advanced disease. In the 2017 Tumor, node, metastasis (TNM) classification, invasion of the pelvicalyceal system, perirenal or renal sinus fat invasion has been included in the T3a category. There are studies evaluating predictive value of CT to indicate renal sinus fat or perirenal fat invasion. Although not in the standard TNM classification, it has been shown that renal capsule invasion is an independent prognostic variable for advanced disease and can be detected on CT. On the other hand, it has been indicated that thickening of the Gerota's fascia, the presence of enlarged collateral vessels, and the presence of intra-tumoral necrosis may be imaging findings that can be used to predict advanced disease. The investigators think that the markers evaluated so far in pre-operative imaging and some additional markers may predict advanced disease in RCC. The investigators also think that the predictive value of MRI may be higher than CT. Therefore, in this study the investigators evaluated some predictive features (Renal capsule invasion, perirenal fat invasion, thickening of the Gerota's fascia, presence of enlarged collateral vessels, tumor necrosis, perinephric stranding) of pre-operative computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging for advanced disease in renal cell carcinoma.