Comparison between vascular cast and three-dimensional ultrasonography on tumor vessels.

ABSTRACT

AIM: The aim of this study was to characterize the morphology of renal tumor vessels. METHODS: Twenty-two patients with kidney neoplasm underwent three-dimensional reconstruction prior to surgery. The vascular cast of kidney specimens was obtained after surgery. RESULTS: The vascular cast revealed proliferation, thickening, compression, displacement, and arteriovenous fistulae in tumor vessels, which were consistent with the findings from 3-D ultrasound (chi(2)=12.60, P<.01). CONCLUSION: Most renal cellular carcinomas are rich blood-supplied tumors with distinctive vasculature in the tumor region.