[Is renal arteriography necessary for the diagnosis of local staging in renal cell carcinoma?].

The accuracy of computed tomography and arteriography for the diagnosis of local staging of renal cell carcinoma was examined in 39 patients. Their accuracy in predicting perinephric, retroperitoneal lymph node, renal vein and inferior vena caval involvement by the tumor was investigated. The results were correlated with pathologic diagnoses from specimens of nephrectomy and lymphadenectomy in 39 cases. Staging was the same as the findings of computed tomography in 82 per cent of the lesions (27 of 34) and with arteriography in 74 per cent (29 of 39). Compared to arteriography, computed tomography was more accurate in the diagnosis of regional lymph node metastases. Based upon this experience, preoperative arteriography is not routinely recommended for the diagnosis of local staging of renal cell carcinoma.