Table 1 CT and MRI imaging characteristics of common renal masses
From: Assessment and characterisation of common renal masses with CT and MRI
Renal mass | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Enhancement pattern # | T1 (#) | T2 (#) | Enhancement pattern (#) | |
Simple cyst | No enhancement | Hypointense | Hyperintense | No enhancement |
Complex cyst | Mural/septal (nodular) enhancement | Hypo-, hyperintense (depends on haemorrhage or proteinaceous fluid) | Hypo-, hyperintense (depends on haemorrhage or proteinaceous fluid) | Mural/septal (nodular) enhancement |
RCC clear cell | Hyperenhancement (90%); heterogeneous pattern (90%) (cystic/necrotic) | Isointense (cytoplasmatic fat; in-, opp phase); hypointense in case of necrosis | Hyperintense (hypointense in case of haemorrhage) | Hyperenhancement (90%); heterogeneous pattern (90%) (cystic/necrotic) |
RCC papillary | Hypoenhancement (57%); homogeneous pattern (90%) | Isointense | Hypointense | Hypoenhancement; homogeneous pattern (heterogeneous in case of necrosis) |
TCC | Hypoenhancement; heterogeneous pattern | Isointense (to medulla) | Hypointense (in the case of infiltration) | Hypoenhancement; filling defects in the collecting system |
Lymphoma | Hypoenhancement; heterogeneous pattern | Iso-hypointense | Hypointense | Hypoenhancement; heterogeneous pattern |
Adenoma/ oncocytoma | Hyper-, hypo-enhancement; heterogeneous pattern; central scar | Hypointense (70%) | Hyperintense (67%) | Hyper-, hypo-enhancement; heterogeneous pattern; central scar |
Abscess/ xanthogranuloma. PN | Mural enhancement; heterogeneous pattern (calculi, hydronephrosis) | Isointense | Hyperintense | Mural enhancement; heterogeneous pattern (hydronephrosis) |
Angiomyolipoma | Hypo-, hyperenhancement; fat-containing | Hyperintense; bulk fat (fat saturation) | Hyperintense; (hypointense in lipid-poor AML) | hypo-, hyperenhancement |
Pseudotumour | Enhancement equal to normal tissue | Isointense | Isointense | Enhancement equal to normal tissue |