Magnetic Resonance Imaging as a Biomarker for Renal Cell Carcinoma

Figure 1

Conventional MRI provides anatomic but not physiologic information about kidney tumors. (a) 3 cm exophytic renal mass is imaged with conventional MRI that can only provide information about the size of a renal mass and its enhancement after administration of gadolinium-based contrast agent. Based on its size, there is a 30% likelihood that it is benign. Percutaneous core needle biopsy determined that it was a renal cell carcinoma. (b) 7 cm endophytic renal mass with para-aortic lymphadenopathy indicated by the red arrow.

(a)

(b)