What are the common indications for CT and MRI of the kidneys?
The most common clinical indications include:
- • Characterization of indeterminate renal lesions detected on prior cross-sectional imaging. This is done most frequently to distinguish a benign lesion such as a renal cyst from a malignant primary or metastatic neoplasm.
- • Surveillance of patients with genetic syndromes who are at increased risk for renal cell carcinoma (RCC).
- • Staging and response assessment of patients with renal malignancies.
- • Pretreatment and post-treatment evaluation of patients undergoing renal transplantation, as well as pretreatment evaluation of live renal donors.
- • Evaluation of patients with abdominal symptoms or signs (e.g., flank pain, hematuria) that are suspected to be secondary to renal disease.
- • Assessment for traumatic injury to the kidneys (mainly using contrast-enhanced CT).
- • Providing guidance for percutaneous biopsy or intervention for renal disease.
