Title:The Value of Radiological Imaging in Assessing Extrarenal Fat and Renal Vein
Invasion in Renal Cell Carcinoma
Volume: 20
Author(s): Junchao Ma, Enyu Yuan, Yuntian Chen, Jin Yao and Bin Song*
Affiliation:
- Department of Radiology, West China Hospital, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, China
- Department of Radiology, Sanya People's Hospital, Sanya 572000, Hainan, China
Keywords:
Renal cell carcinoma, Perinephric fat invasion, Renal sinus fat invasion, Computed tomography, MDCT, Radiological imaging.
Abstract: Renal cell carcinoma with extrarenal fat (perinephric or renal sinus fat) and renal vein invasion is the main evidence for the T3a stage according to
the American Joint Committee on Cancer tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) staging system. Extrarenal fat invasion of renal cell carcinoma is defined
as the presence of perinephric fat invasion or renal sinus fat invasion. Renal vein invasion is defined as the presence of main or segmental (branch)
renal vein invasion. Accurate assessment of extrarenal fat and renal vein invasion is crucial for urologists to adopt the optimal therapeutic schedule,
including radical nephrectomy or nephron-sparing treatments. Currently, imaging is still the most widely used means of examination for diagnosis
and staging of renal cell carcinoma, especially multidetector computed tomography (MDCT). Therefore, we have, herein, summarized the latest
progress and the future direction regarding imaging for assessing perinephric or renal sinus fat and renal vein invasion of renal cell carcinoma to
assist clinical treatment selection and patient risk stratification.
