Published in:
01-06-2013 | Urogenital
MR imaging of renal cortical tumours: qualitative and quantitative chemical shift imaging parameters
Authors:
Christoph A. Karlo, Olivio F. Donati, Irene A. Burger, Junting Zheng, Chaya S. Moskowitz, Hedvig Hricak, Oguz Akin
Published in:
European Radiology
|
Issue 6/2013
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Abstract
Objectives
To assess qualitative and quantitative chemical shift MRI parameters of renal cortical tumours.
Methods
A total of 251 consecutive patients underwent 1.5-T MRI before nephrectomy. Two readers (R1, R2) independently evaluated all tumours visually for a decrease in signal intensity (SI) on opposed- compared with in-phase chemical shift images. In addition, SI was measured on in- and opposed-phase images (SIIP, SIOP) and the chemical shift index was calculated as a measure of percentage SI change. Histopathology served as the standard of reference.
Results
A visual decrease in SI was identified significantly more often in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (RCCs) (R1, 73 %; R2, 64 %) and angiomyolipomas (both, 80 %) than in oncocytomas (29 %, 12 %), papillary (29 %, 17 %) and chromophobe RCCs (13 %, 9 %; all, P < 0.05). Median chemical shift index was significantly greater in clear cell RCC and angiomyolipoma than in the other histological subtypes (both, P < 0.001). Interobserver agreement was fair for visual (kappa, 0.4) and excellent for quantitative analysis (concordance correlation coefficient, 0.80).
Conclusions
A decrease in SI on opposed-phase chemical shift images is not an identifying feature of clear cell RCCs or angiomyolipomas, but can also be observed in oncocytomas, papillary and chromophobe RCCs. After excluding angiomyolipomas, a decrease in SI of more than 25 % was diagnostic for clear cell RCCs.
Key Points
• Chemical shift MRI offers new information about fat within renal tumours.
• Opposed-phase signal decrease can be observed in all renal cortical tumours.
• A greater than 25 % decrease in signal appears to be diagnostic for clear cell RCCs