Most renal masses are asymptomatic and are found incidentally on imaging for other medical reasons. Patients with the classic triad of flank pain, haematuria and abdominal mass are rare and are only seen in advanced stages1. Renal masses can be benign or malignant, and include benign cyst, angiomyolipoma (AML) and malignant lesions. Simple renal cysts can be diagnosed with standard ultrasound, but more complex renal cysts require computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS)2.
The use of contrast in ultrasound for kidneys is off license but is safe to use in both adults and children. Ultrasound contrast agents can be used in patients with renal failure as they are not excreted in the kidneys. They do not affect thyroid function and do not require a blood test before administration. They have very low rates of anaphylactic reactions...
Sign in to your account
Log in
This content is available to registered users only. Please sign in to continue.
If you are not yet registered, please create your account on www.sor.org and verify your membership status. Once your account has been set up, return here and sign in to access the content.
Set up your account