[Role of echography in the evaluation of renal masses. Apropos of 65 cases].

65 renal tumours were investigated by echography. The group was made up of 24 simple cysts, 18 hydatid cysts and 23 carcinomas of the kidney. Analysis of these cases led to the following conclusions: 1) Echography should be carried out whenever a tumour syndrome is found by urography. 2) Solid tumours are malignant. They rarely pose any diagnostic problem. For fluid-containing tumours, a parasitic aetiology may be assumed in the presence of characteristic features and whenever the clinical context is suggestive. A simple cyst with a non-echogenic and homogeneous structure is easy to diagnose. The only diagnostic problem which remains is that of tumours with a heterogeneous echostructure. Arteriography is then of great value. 3) In solid tumours, echography must include study of the renal vein, inferior vena cava and liver. 4) The indications of arteriography are hence limited to heterogeneous tumours and carcinomas of the kidney where is particularly useful is assessing venous spread. 5) Taking all tumours together, the reliability rate of echography is 76%. 6) By virtue of its harmless nature and low cost, it has become an examination of choice in the diagnosis of renal tumours.