Author/Authors :
Chatzidarellis, Elefterios Department of Urology - School of Medicine - University of Athens - Sismanoglio hospital - Athens, Greece , Skolarikos, Andreas Department of Urology - School of Medicine - University of Athens - Sismanoglio hospital - Athens, Greece , Papatsoris, Athanasios G Department of Urology - School of Medicine - University of Athens - Sismanoglio hospital - Athens, Greece
Abstract :
The abundant use of cross-sectional imaging has markedly
increased the diagnosis of small renal masses (SRMs)
(1). A strict definition of small renal masses is lacking and
most authors consider lesions < 4cm as small (2). According
to the literature, 20% of SRMs are benign in formal
histological results and SRMs represent 48-66% of diagnosed
renal cell cancers (RCC) (1, 2). In a meta-analysis
by Chawla et al. (3) the incidence of metastasis of SRMs
is 1% after a 3-year follow up. Nevertheless, the radiological
features of SRMs are insufficient to describe the biological
potential and predict the natural history of SRMs
(4). Therefore, studies have demonstrated overtreatment
of patients with benign SRMs which were misdiagnosed
as malignant on the preoperative imaging (2, 4).
