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Renal tumors with low signal intensities on T2-weighted MR image: radiologic-pathologic correlation

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Abstract

Accurate characterization of renal masses is essential for ensuring appropriate management. Low T2 signal intensity is a common feature of papillary renal cell carcinoma and fat-poor angiomyolipoma. Nonetheless, other types of renal cell carcinoma, oncocytoma, hemangioma, lymphoma, leiomyoma, and urothelial cell carcinoma also can show low signal intensities on T2-weighted imaging (T2WI). Histopathologic features that can lead to low T2 signal intensities in renal tumors include smooth muscle component, papillary architecture, a high nucleus-to-cytoplasm ratio, and hemorrhage. To establish an appropriate differential diagnosis for renal tumors on MRI, it is necessary to understand the relationship between the MR signal intensities and the histopathologic and morphologic features, in addition to contrast enhancement patterns and diffusion characteristics of the tumors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, Anam Hospital, College of Medicine, Korea University, 73 Inchon-ro, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, 136-705, Korea

    Youyeon Kim, Deuk Jae Sung, Ki Choon Sim, Na Yeon Han, Beom Jin Park, Min Ju Kim & Sung Bum Cho

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  1. Youyeon Kim
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  2. Deuk Jae Sung
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  6. Min Ju Kim
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Correspondence to Deuk Jae Sung.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

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Kim, Y., Sung, D.J., Sim, K.C. et al. Renal tumors with low signal intensities on T2-weighted MR image: radiologic-pathologic correlation. Abdom Radiol 42, 2108–2118 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00261-017-1097-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00261-017-1097-4

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