COLOUR DOPPLER ULTRASOUND ASSESSMENT OF THE INFERIOR VENA CAVA IN PATIENTS WITH RENAL CELL CARCINOMA CORRELATION WITH INTRA-OPERATIVE FINDINGS

Purpose: To assess the diagnostic accuracy of colour flow Doppler ultrasound in diagnosing VCI extension of tumor thrombus in patients with renal cell carcinoma. Methods and Materials: In the period from december 2002 to august 2004 tumor thrombus infiltration of VCI was diagnosed preoperatively in 5 patients suffering from renal cell carcinoma using colour flow Doppler ultrasound. We reviewed the ultrasound reports and compared them with the intraopertive findings. Results: Tumor thrombus extension into the VCI was present in 5 patients. In one there was also atrial extension. Colour flow Doppler ultrasound cor…