[Cavography and CT for demonstration of canalicular spread of renal neoplasms into the inferior vena cava ].

The venous and lymphogenic tumor extension (Robson, Stage III) was assessed in two patient collectives with renal neoplasms: in the first (n = 47), only cavography, in the second (n = 45), only computerized tomography was performed. For both groups there were no false negative diagnoses. False positive readings can occur with CT. Thus, ambiguous findings in CT should be clarified by cavography. CT was superior to cavography regarding the detection of pathologic lymph nodes. However, lymph node enlargement was caused in 10% of these cases by inflammatory hyperplastic reaction without evidence of metastatic tumor spread.