Contrast Ultrasound Dispersion Imaging (CUDI) as a Diagnostic Modality in the Diagnosis of Renal Cell Carcinoma

Introduction The current limitations of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) imaging form a major deficit in the diagnostic pathway. Contrast Enhanced UltraSound (CEUS) has the potential to improve RCC detection and localization significantly. CEUS image interpretation is however difficult and subjective. To overcome these difficulties a CEUS quantification technique, Contrast-enhanced Ultrasound Dispersion Imaging (CUDI), has been developed in cooperation with the Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e).

Study objective Primary objective: To assess the sensitivity and specificity of CUDI for recognizing malignant tissue in vivo.

Study population All patients scheduled for a partial or radial nephrectomy in the Amsterdam UMC (Amsterdam Universitair Medische Centra) Study Procedure This study is a prospective in-vivo study in patients scheduled for a partial or radical nephrectomy for a suspicious RCC in which we will perform CEUS imaging. The (partial) nephrectomy is part of standard care for patients with a suspicious lesion in the kidney. The additional ultrasound with infusion of an ultrasound contrast agent during ultrasound scanning is performed for the purpose of the study. CEUS imaging will be performed right before (partial) nephrectomy, with the patient being under general anesthesia. The CEUS and CUDI parametric maps will be interpreted by Investigator A in a blinded fashion with suspicious lesions each delineated. The (partial) nephrectomy will be performed by a qualified urologist, and the analysis of the histological specimens will be performed by a qualified pathologist. Sensitivity and specificity for CUDI will be calculated for all patients receiving a (partial) nephrectomy in which the tissue is sent for pathology.

Benefits Currently, most renal tumors are diagnosed by abdominal US, CT or MRI. Renal tumors are classified as cystic or solid lesions on imaging. The most important criteria for differentiating malignant lesions is the presence of enhancement after administration of contrast for CT or MRI in several different phases (4 phases CT-scan). Enhancement in renal masses is determined by comparing Hounsfield units before and after administration of contrast. A change of 15 or more Hounsfield units demonstrates enhancement. Specificity and sensitivity for detecting RCC are around 75% and 88% for CT, and around 89% and 87.5% for MRI, respectively.

Both CT and MRI can objectify a contrast-enhancing mass, suspicious for RCC, however, they cannot reliably distinguish a benign lesion (such as an oncocytoma or angiomyolipoma) from a malignant renal neoplasm. For that reason, patients are currently undergoing an RTB (renal tumor biopsy) to objectify pathology for deciding if treatment is necessary or not. Recent literature suggests up to 30% benign pathology after partial nephrectomy implicating overtreatment. RTB has been gradually introduced and increasingly used, however, an RTB is not without risks. Bleeding is the most documented complication. Recently even tumor tract seeding has been under discussion. Improving imaging by using CUDI for differentiating benign from malignant lesions instead of performing an RTB could prevent those risks for patients.

Risk assessment There is a small risk of contrast-related adverse events (AE) for participants. After use in millions of patients, AE to the ultrasound contrast agent appear to be transient, mild and rare, and mostly consist of transient alteration of taste, local pain at the injection site and facial or general flush. In some cases, a mild allergic reaction is described. Patients will be informed of the risk during contrast exposure, and it will be described in the patient information file.