To compare ultrasonography (US) and computed tomography (CT) in detecting clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) according to tumor stage and mode of presentation.
We conducted a monocentric cross-sectional study of patients undergoing surgery for renal tumors between 2011 and 2020. Patients were classified by detection mode, imaging modality, histological subtype, and tumor stage. Logistic and linear regression models were used to assess associations adjusted for relevant covariates.
Among 804 eligible patients, 576 had ccRCC, of whom 83.3% were detected incidentally. US and CT were used in 52.1% and 47.9% of cases, respectively. Overall detection rates did not differ significantly between modalities (OR 1.08; p = 0.381). However, US was more likely to detect incidental ccRCC at stages I-II (OR 1.26; 95% CI: 1.05-1.52; p = 0.012). Incidental ccRCC was more likely to be detected by US than symptomatic ccRCC (adjusted OR 2.32; p = 0.001). Mean age at diagnosis increased with tumor stage, with an adjusted age-stage gradient of 3.03 years between stage III-IV and stage I-II ccRCC (p = 0.002).
US was associated with incidental early-stage ccRCC detection. The observed age-stage gradient provides hypothesis-generating evidence compatible with time-dependent ccRCC progression.
Cancer treatment and research communications. 2026 Jun 22 [Epub ahead of print]
Petr Klézl, Marek Petráš, Jindřich Šonský, Alexandra Gregušová, Jakub Hanych, Robert Grill, Kateřina Licková, Jana Malinová, Tomáš Blažek, Ivana Králová Lesná
Department of Urology, Královské Vinohrady University Hospital, 100 00 Prague, Czech Republic; Third Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, 100 00 Prague, Czech Republic., Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Third Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, 100 00 Prague, Czech Republic. Electronic address: ., Third Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, 100 00 Prague, Czech Republic; Department of Oncology, Královské Vinohrady University Hospital, 100 00 Prague, Czech Republic., Third Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, 100 00 Prague, Czech Republic; Clinic of Occupational and Travel Medicine, Královské Vinohrady University Hospital, 100 00 Prague, Czech Republic., Department of Oncology, Ostrava University Hospital, 708 52 Ostrava, Czech Republic; Faculty of Medicine, University of Ostrava, 703 00 Ostrava, Czech Republic., Laboratory for Atherosclerosis Research, Centre for Experimental Medicine, Institute for Clinical and Experimental Medicine, 140 21 Prague, Czech Republic; Department of Anesthesia and Intensive Medicine, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and University Military Hospital, 100 00 Prague, Czech Republic.