Submitted Successfully!
To reward your contribution, here is a gift for you: A free trial for our video production service.
Thank you for your contribution! You can also upload a video entry or images related to this topic.
Version Summary Created by Modification Content Size Created at Operation
1
Eduard Roussel
 + 1669 word(s) 1669 2022-02-24 09:22:17 |
2 format corrected.
Beatrix Zheng
 Meta information modification 1669 2022-03-09 02:05:42 |

Video Upload Options

Do you have a full video?
Send video materials Upload full video

Confirm

Are you sure to Delete?
Yes No
Cite
If you have any further questions, please contact Encyclopedia Editorial Office.
Roussel, E. Ultrasound for the Characterization of Renal Masses. Encyclopedia. Available online: https://encyclopedia.pub/entry/20323 (accessed on 30 June 2024).
Roussel E. Ultrasound for the Characterization of Renal Masses. Encyclopedia. Available at: https://encyclopedia.pub/entry/20323. Accessed June 30, 2024.
Roussel, Eduard. "Ultrasound for the Characterization of Renal Masses" Encyclopedia, https://encyclopedia.pub/entry/20323 (accessed June 30, 2024).
Roussel, E. (2022, March 08). Ultrasound for the Characterization of Renal Masses. In Encyclopedia. https://encyclopedia.pub/entry/20323
Roussel, Eduard. "Ultrasound for the Characterization of Renal Masses." Encyclopedia. Web. 08 March, 2022.
Ultrasound for the Characterization of Renal Masses
Edit
This entry is adapted from the peer-reviewed paper 10.3390/jcm11041112

Ultrasound is a widely available, approachable, and relatively inexpensive imaging modality that allows for real-time evaluation of a suspected renal mass without the drawbacks of ionizing radiation and the risk of an MRI. CEUS has several advantages over traditional grayscale ultrasound in the characterization of indeterminate renal masses. It has a distinct value in the characterization of cystic renal masses and has the potential to differentiate benign from malignant renal masses to some extent. Ultrasound molecular imaging could potentially be an extension of the use of CEUS for serial disease monitoring and longitudinal assessment of treatment response, though it remains in preclinical stages of development at this time. While emerging micro-Doppler techniques and elastography have shown some encouraging applications, current evidence is limited, and neither is ready for widespread clinical use.

ultrasound ultrasonography contrast-enhanced ultrasound micro-Doppler molecular ultrasound renal mass renal tumor renal cell carcinoma

1. Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound

Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) is an emerging technique that addresses some of the limitations of non-enhanced grayscale and traditional Doppler ultrasound for the detection of vascularization within soft tissues. Intravenously administered ultrasound contrast agents consist of small particles: gas-filled cores encapsulated within biodegradable shells. These microbubbles, approximately the size of red blood cells, resonate non-linearly when insonnated by ultrasound. The unique signals from microbubbles can be separated from background tissues, allowing for the specific detection of blood flow within perfused tissues. CEUS can definitively confirm simple cysts via the lack of enhancement and may help to characterize solid renal lesions based on differences in lesional versus renal cortical perfusion [1][2]. Figure 1 and Figure 2 illustrate the performance of CEUS compared with traditional grayscale ultrasound by identifying enhancement within a renal mass. Despite the lack of radiation, low cost and highly favorable safety profile of ultrasound contrast agents, operator dependency and other technical factors may limit reproducibility [3][4].
/media/item_content/202203/6227fc071a815jcm-11-01112-g001.png
Figure 1. A 79-year-old man with a history of bladder cancer undergoing evaluation for hydronephrosis. Grayscale ultrasound image of the left kidney in the longitudinal orientation (a) shows an exophytic hypoechoic mass containing internal low-level echos. Following an intravenous injection of 1.8 cc Lumason ultrasound contrast, a contrast-enhanced ultrasound image focused at the upper pole (b) revealed the mass was completely non-enhancing (devoid of signal), which is diagnostic for a simple cyst. No further follow-up was necessary.
/media/item_content/202203/6227fc2471bb2jcm-11-01112-g002.png
Figure 2. A 67-year-old man with multiple renal lesions, status post SBRT one year prior for contra-lateral RCC. Grayscale ultrasound image of the left kidney in longitudinal orientation (a) shows an isoechoic exophytic nodule. Following the intravenous administration of 1.0 cc Lumason ultrasound contrast, a contrast-enhanced ultrasound image (b) shows the nodule demonstrating predominantly solid avid enhancement relative to the adjacent renal cortex. A partial nephrectomy revealed clear cell renal cell carcinoma, grade 2.
CEUS has a distinct value in characterizing septations and mural nodules within cystic renal masses based on the presence or lack of enhancement, which is of specific interest for the equivocal Bosniak IIF and III cystic renal masses. However, specific definitions for CEUS imaging findings to predict the gradual increase in the risk of malignancy (i.e., equivalent to the Bosniak classification) are currently lacking [5]. According to several reports, the sensitivity and specificity of CEUS for malignancy in a cystic renal mass was comparable to CECT and MRI [3][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13]. Additionally, CEUS was reported to perform at least as well as, if not better than, CECT and contrast-enhanced MRI (CEMR) in the classification of benign versus malignant renal masses [1][7][8][9][14][15][16]. Furrer et al. performed a meta-analysis on 1290 patients harboring 1342 cystic or solid renal masses, comparing the performance of CEUS to CECT and CEMR in the detection of benign versus malignant histology. They reported pooled sensitivity and specificity values for CEUS, CECT and CEMR of 96%, 90% and 96%, and 78%, 77% and 75%, respectively [1]. Their findings were in line with the findings of meta-analyses by Zhang et al., who compared CEUS to CECT in solid renal masses, and Zhou et al., who compared CEUS to CEMR in CRMs [7][16]. However, a low prevalence of certain benign tumor types (e.g., only 1% of renal masses were oncocytomas) likely reflects a considerable selection bias in these studies. Furthermore, it is unclear how many renal masses in these studies were excluded due to macroscopic fat seen during CT or MRI, which is virtually diagnostic of AML. They concluded that CEUS could be a valuable alternative to CECT in the evaluation of both solid as well as cystic renal masses, despite the heterogeneity across studies and the overall level of evidence being low [1].
Although quantitative CEUS features, such as the analysis of time–intensity curves, were shown to partially aid in the distinction of clear cell RCC (ccRCC), papillary RCC (papRCC) and chromophobe RCC (chrRCC) between each other and typical AML from RCCs, there is considerable overlap between imaging features of these renal tumor subtypes [17][18][19].
Moreover, both fat-poor AMLs (fpAML) and oncocytomas cannot be reliably distinguished from RCC on CEUS due to non-differing sonomorphological imaging features [8][17][20][21][22]. Therefore, CEUS is likely inadequate for subtyping all solid renal masses at this time.

2. Ultrasound Molecular Imaging

A highly innovative approach to ultrasound imaging involves the targeting and real-time, in vivo visualization of physiologic processes with molecular-specific imaging. Molecular-targeted microbubbles have been developed as an extension of CEUS [23][24]. This could be of particular interest in the metastatic setting, where the response to systemic therapy is currently determined by the change in tumor volume. However, changes in tumor physiology occur sooner than measurable tumor volume changes, which might allow for earlier assessment of tumor progression, response to systemic therapy and, ultimately, therapeutic decision making. Moreover, the use of molecular imaging techniques might better characterize features relating to intrinsic disease biology, such as angiogenesis, potentially leading to more individualized treatment decision making [25][26]. In a recent report, Rojas et al. studied ccRCC in a xenograft model of immunodeficient mice treated with the anti-angiogenic vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitor sunitinib [24]. They administered a microbubble contrast agent targeted to VEGFR-2 and subsequently imaged the tumors with CEUS after 1 week of treatment. They reported changes in VEGFR-2 expression at that time, as determined on ultrasound molecular imaging in the sunitinib-treated group, as opposed to changes in tumor volume, which only became apparent after 3 weeks. Moreover, after 1 week, response to therapy was detected in 92% of cases with ultrasound molecular imaging, whereas the detection rate was only 40% with volume measurements. Likewise, Ingels et al. studied the potential of ultrasound molecular imaging to track the response to sunitinib in a ccRCC mice xenograft model [23]. These mice, harboring ccRCC, were randomized between treatment with sunitinib and control and were injected with both non-targeted microbubbles and microbubbles targeting VEGFR-1 and follicle-stimulating hormone receptor (FSHR). Both the VEGFR-1 and FSHR signal enhancement were significantly lower in the sunitinib group at all times of treatment, while there was no significant difference between the two groups for the non-targeted microbubble ultrasound signal. Thus, they confirmed the potential of ultrasound molecular imaging for the longitudinal assessment of treatment response to sunitinib. However, despite its potential for serial monitoring of disease, as well as longitudinal assessment of disease response to systemic therapy, ultrasound molecular imaging is still in the very early phases of development and further research endeavors will determine whether these techniques can provide additional value in clinical practice.

3. Elastography

Equivalent to the use of palpation during physical examination, ultrasound elastography measures changes in tissue stiffness, which are often seen with diffuse parenchymal diseases and the associated changes in tissue architecture [27]. Strain elastography provides a qualitative or semi-quantitative assessment of tissue elasticity using external compression–decompression cycles from the ultrasound transducer. Shear-wave elastography (SWE) involves a quantitative assessment of tissue stiffness by measuring the propagation speed of generated shear waves through tissues. This technique does not require external compression by a transducer, relying instead on a high-amplitude push pulse (also known as acoustic radiation force impulse or ARFI), thus making it less operator dependent [28]. Strain elastography was shown to aid in the distinction of benign vs. malignant lesions, the distinction of RCC from AML and the distinction of RCC from transitional cell carcinoma [27][29][30]. SWE had potential value in the differentiation of ccRCC versus oncocytoma, ccRCC versus chrRCC or papRCC and pseudotumor from ccRCC or AML, though failed to differentiate between ccRCC and AML [28][31]. However, few studies have been conducted and these results lack validation, rendering clinical applications for renal mass characterization limited at this time.

4. Micro-Doppler Techniques

The presence of blood flow within a renal mass indicates solid tissue, as opposed to a renal cyst. The pattern of vascularity may help characterize indeterminate renal masses, such as differentiating malignancy from pseudomasses. Many companies are releasing novel micro-Doppler techniques with advanced clutter suppression. Some of these include Superb Micro-Vascular Imaging (Canon Medical Systems, Tochigi, Japan), Micro Vascular Imaging (GE Healthcare, Waukesha, WI, USA), Micro-Flow Imaging (Philips Healthcare, Bothell, WA, USA) and Micro Vascular Flow (Samsung Medison, Seoul, Korea). These techniques appear to improve the detection of slower flow within smaller vessels, increasing the ability to detect subtle vascularity within indeterminate renal masses that were previously below the detection threshold for traditional color and power Doppler techniques.
Leong et al. recently imaged 41 patients harboring 50 renal masses with Superb Micro-Vascular Imaging (SMI). They found that SMI had a higher diagnostic accuracy than standard color Doppler imaging and power Doppler imaging for the detection of vascularity within solid renal masses [32]. They concluded that SMI might have potential in the detection of microvascularity within indeterminate solid renal masses. Subsequently, Mao et al. showed that SMI could distinguish significantly different patterns of vascularization between pathologically proven malignant and benign renal masses in a study on 53 patients [33]. Conversely, conventional Doppler flow imaging could not discern these differences in vascularization.
Although the benefit of these micro-Doppler techniques includes intravenous contrast not being required, there has not been a direct comparison to CEUS for the detection of malignancy, which limits the current applications of these techniques. Future endeavors should specifically study whether the addition of these techniques to CEUS could improve the diagnostic accuracy and could potentially be a useful addition to current techniques in terms of characterizing indeterminate renal masses.

References

  1. Furrer, M.A.; Spycher, S.C.J.; Büttiker, S.M.; Gross, T.; Bosshard, P.; Thalmann, G.N.; Schneider, M.P.; Roth, B. Comparison of the Diagnostic Performance of Contrast-enhanced Ultrasound with That of Contrast-enhanced Computed Tomography and Contrast-enhanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging in the Evaluation of Renal Masses: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Eur. Urol. Oncol. 2020, 3, 464–473.
  2. Fetzer, D.T. Recent Advances in US Vascular Imaging: Highlighting an Important Use Case. Radiology 2020, 298, 91–92.
  3. Yong, C.; Teo, Y.M.; Kapur, J. Diagnostic performance of contrast-enhanced ultrasound in the evaluation of renal masses in patients with renal impairment. Med. J. Malaysia 2016, 71, 193–198.
  4. Lu, Q.; Huang, B.J.; Xue, L.Y.; Fan, P.-L.; Wang, W.-P. Differentiation of renal tumor histotypes: Usefulness of quantitative analysis of contrast-enhanced ultrasound. Am. J. Roentgenol. 2015, 205, W335–W342.
  5. Silverman, S.G.; Pedrosa, I.; Ellis, J.H.; Hindman, N.M.; Schieda, N.; Smith, A.D.; Remer, E.M.; Shinagare, A.B.; Curci, N.E.; Raman, S.S.; et al. Bosniak Classification of Cystic Renal Masses, Version 2019: An Update Proposal and Needs Assessment. Radiology 2019, 292, 475–488.
  6. Öztürk, H. Evaluation of Bosniak Type IIF and III Renal Cysts with Contrast-enhanced Ultrasound. J. Belgian. Soc. Radiol. 2016, 100, 12. Available online: http://jbsr.be/articles/10.5334/jbr-btr.843/ (accessed on 23 December 2021).
  7. Zhou, L.; Tang, L.; Yang, T.; Chen, W. Comparison of contrast-enhanced ultrasound with MRI in the diagnosis of complex cystic renal masses: A meta-analysis. Acta Radiol. 2018, 59, 1254–1263.
  8. Rübenthaler, J.; Negrão de Figueiredo, G.; Mueller-Peltzer, K.; Clevert, D.A. Evaluation of renal lesions using contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS); a 10-year retrospective European single-centre analysis. Eur. Radiol. 2018, 28, 4542–4549.
  9. Lerchbaumer, M.H.; Putz, F.J.; Rübenthaler, J.; Rogasch, J.; Jung, E.-M.; Clevert, D.-A.; Hamm, B.; Makowski, M.; Fischer, T. Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) of cystic renal lesions in comparison to CT and MRI in a multicenter setting. Clin. Hemorheol. Microcirc. 2020, 75, 419–429.
  10. Sanz, E.; Hevia, V.; Gómez, V.; Álvarez, S.; Fabuel, J.-J.; Martínez, L.; Rodriguez-Patrón, R.; González-Gordaliza, C.; Burgos, F.-J. Renal Complex Cystic Masses: Usefulness of Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound (CEUS) in Their Assessment and Its Agreement with Computed Tomography. Curr. Urol. Rep. 2016, 17, 89.
  11. Ragel, M.; Nedumaran, A.; Makowska-Webb, J. Prospective comparison of use of contrast-enhanced ultrasound and contrast-enhanced computed tomography in the Bosniak classification of complex renal cysts. Ultrasound 2016, 24, 6–16.
  12. Defortescu, G.; Cornu, J.-N.; Béjar, S.; Giwerc, A.; Gobet, F.; Werquin, C.; Pfister, C.; Nouhaud, F.-X. Diagnostic performance of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging for the assessment of complex renal cysts: A prospective study. Int. J. Urol. Off J. Japanese Urol. Assoc. 2017, 24, 184–189.
  13. Zhou, X.; Yan, F.; Luo, Y.; Peng, Y.-L.; Parajuly, S.S.; Wen, X.-R.; Cai, D.-M.; Li, Y.-Z. Characterization and diagnostic confidence of contrast-enhanced ultrasound for solid renal tumors. Ultrasound Med. Biol. 2011, 37, 845–853.
  14. Rübenthaler, J.; Paprottka, K.; Marcon, J.; Hameister, E.; Hoffmann, K.; Joiko, N.; Reiser, M.; Clevert, D. Comparison of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in the evaluation of unclear solid renal lesions. Clin. Hemorheol. Microcirc. 2016, 64, 757–763.
  15. Wei, S.-P.; Xu, C.-L.; Zhang, Q.; Zhang, Q.-R.; Zhao, Y.-E.; Huang, P.-F.; Xie, Y.-D.; Zhou, C.-S.; Tian, F.-L.; Yang, B. Contrast-enhanced ultrasound for differentiating benign from malignant solid small renal masses: Comparison with contrast-enhanced CT. Abdom. Radiol. 2017, 42, 2135–2145.
  16. Zhang, F.; Li, R.; Li, G.; Jin, L.; Shi, Q.; Du, L. Value of Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound in the Diagnosis of Renal Cancer and in Comparison With Contrast-Enhanced Computed Tomography: A Meta-analysis. J. Ultrasound. Med. 2019, 38, 903–914.
  17. Xue, L.-Y.; Lu, Q.; Huang, B.-J.; Li, Z.; Li, C.-X.; Wen, J.-X.; Wang, W.-P. Papillary renal cell carcinoma and clear cell renal cell carcinoma: Differentiation of distinct histological types with contrast-enhanced ultrasonography. Eur. J. Radiol. 2015, 84, 1849–1856.
  18. Li, C.-X.; Lu, Q.; Huang, B.-J.; Xue, L.-Y.; Yan, L.-X.; Zheng, F.-Y.; Wen, J.-X.; Wang, W.-P. Quantitative evaluation of contrast-enhanced ultrasound for differentiation of renal cell carcinoma subtypes and angiomyolipoma. Eur. J. Radiol. 2016, 85, 795–802.
  19. Kasoji, S.K.; Chang, E.H.; Mullin, L.B.; Chong, W.K.; Rathmell, W.K.; Dayton, P.A. A Pilot Clinical Study in Characterization of Malignant Renal-cell Carcinoma Subtype with Contrast-enhanced Ultrasound. Ultrason. Imaging 2017, 39, 126–136.
  20. Lu, Q.; Li, C.; Huang, B.; Xue, L.-Y.; Wang, W.-P. Triphasic and epithelioid minimal fat renal angiomyolipoma and clear cell renal cell carcinoma: Qualitative and quantitative CEUS characteristics and distinguishing features. Abdom. Imaging 2015, 40, 333–342.
  21. Xue, L.-Y.; Lu, Q.; Huang, B.-J.; Li, C.-X.; Yan, L.-X.; Wang, W.-P. Differentiation of subtypes of renal cell carcinoma with contrast-enhanced ultrasonography. Clin. Hemorheol. Microcirc. 2016, 63, 361–371.
  22. Schwarze, V.; Marschner, C.; Negrão de Figueiredo, G.; Knösel, T.; Rübenthaler, J.; Clevert, D.-A. Single-center study: The diagnostic performance of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) for assessing renal oncocytoma. Scand. J. Urol. 2020, 54, 135–140.
  23. Ingels, A.; Leguerney, I.; Cournède, P.-H.; Irani, J.; Ferlicot, S.; Sébrié, C.; Benatsou, B.; Jourdain, L.; Pitre-Champagnat, S.; Patard, J.-J.; et al. Ultrasound Molecular Imaging of Renal Cell Carcinoma: VEGFR targeted therapy monitored with VEGFR1 and FSHR targeted microbubbles. Sci. Rep. 2020, 10, 7308.
  24. Rojas, J.D.; Lin, F.; Chiang, Y.-C.; Chytil, A.; Chong, D.C.; Bautch, V.L.; Rathmell, W.K.; Dayton, P.A. Ultrasound Molecular Imaging of VEGFR-2 in Clear-Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma Tracks Disease Response to Antiangiogenic and Notch-Inhibition Therapy. Theranostics 2018, 8, 141–155. Available online: https://www.thno.org/v08p0141.htm (accessed on 23 December 2021).
  25. Roussel, E.; Verbiest, A.; Kinget, L.; Boeckx, B.; Zucman-Rossi, J.; Couchy, G.; Caruso, S.; Job, S.; de Reyniès, A.; De Wever, L.; et al. Molecular subtypes and gene expression signatures as prognostic features in fully resected clear cell renal cell carcinoma: A tailored approach to adjuvant trials. Clin. Genitourin. Cancer 2021, 19, e382–e394.
  26. Roussel, E.; Kinget, L.; Verbiest, A.; Boeckx, B.; Zucman-Rossi, J.; Couchy, G.; Caruso, S.; Baldewijns, M.; Joniau, S.; Van Poppel, H.; et al. Molecular underpinnings of glandular tropism in metastatic clear cell renal cell carcinoma: Therapeutic implications. Acta Oncol. 2021, 60, 1499–1506.
  27. Onur, M.R.; Poyraz, A.K.; Bozgeyik, Z.; Onur, A.R.; Orhan, I. Utility of semiquantitative strain elastography for differentiation between benign and malignant solid renal masses. J. Ultrasound. Med. 2015, 34, 639–647. Available online: https://www.embase.com/search/results?subaction=viewrecord&id=L607593853&from=export (accessed on 23 December 2021).
  28. Guo, L.-H.; Liu, B.-J.; Xu, H.-X.; Liu, C.; Sun, L.-P.; Zhang, Y.-F.; Xu, J.-M.; Wu, J.; Xu, X.-H. Acoustic radiation force impulse elastography in differentiating renal solid masses: A preliminary experience. Int. J. Clin. Exp. Pathol. 2014, 7, 7469–7476. Available online: https://www.embase.com/search/results?subaction=viewrecord&id=L615392918&from=export (accessed on 23 December 2021).
  29. Keskin, S.; Güven, S.; Keskin, Z.; Özbiner, H.; Kerimoğlu, Ü.; Yeşildağ, A. Strain elastography in the characterization of renal cell carcinoma and angiomyolipoma. Can. Urol. Assoc. J. 2015, 9, e67–e71.
  30. Inci, M.F.; Kalayci, T.O.; Tan, S.; Karasu, S.; Albayrak, E.; Cakir, V.; Ocal, I.; Ozkan, F. Diagnostic value of strain elastography for differentiation between renal cell carcinoma and transitional cell carcinoma of kidney. Abdom. Radiol. 2016, 41, 1152–1159. Available online: https://www.embase.com/search/results?subaction=viewrecord&id=L610856254&from=export (accessed on 23 December 2021).
  31. Thaiss, W.M.; Bedke, J.; Kruck, S.; Spira, D.; Stenzl, A.; Nikolaou, K.; Horger, M.; Kaufmann, S. Can contrast-enhanced ultrasound and acoustic radiation force impulse imaging characterize CT-indeterminate renal masses? A prospective evaluation with histological confirmation. World J. Urol. 2019, 37, 1339–1346.
  32. Leong, J.Y.; Wessner, C.E.; Kramer, M.R.; Forsberg, F.; Halpern, E.J.; Lyshchik, A.; Torkzaban, M.; Morris, A.; Byrne, K.; VanMeter, M.; et al. Superb Microvascular Imaging Improves Detection of Vascularity in Indeterminate Renal Masses. J. Ultrasound. Med. Off. J. Am. Inst. Ultrasound. Med. 2020, 39, 1947–1955.
  33. Mao, Y.; Mu, J.; Zhao, J.; Zhao, L.; Xin, X. The value of superb microvascular imaging in differentiating benign renal mass from malignant renal tumor: A retrospective study. Br. J. Radiol. 2018, 91, 20170601. Available online: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29125337 (accessed on 23 December 2021).
More
© Text is available under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license; additional terms may apply. By using this site, you agree to the Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.
Upload a video for this entry
Information
Subjects: Oncology
Contributor MDPI registered users' name will be linked to their SciProfiles pages. To register with us, please refer to https://encyclopedia.pub/register :
Eduard Roussel
View Times: 622
Revisions: 2 times (View History)
Update Date: 09 Mar 2022
Table of Contents
    1000/1000
    Hot Most Recent
    Video Production Service
    Feedback