[NMR tomography of vena cava thrombi: clinical significance in the differential diagnosis and therapy].

31 patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma underwent abdominal MRI which were examined by an independent experienced radiologist and compared with the intraoperative findings. 12 of 13 vena caval tumor thrombi were diagnosed correctly, 1 small tumor thrombus in a case with large retroperitoneal lymph nodes compressing the vena cava could not be detected. The extension of the tumor in the vena cava could exactly be described in topographic relation to liver, diaphragm and right atrium which is important for planning the operative procedure.