• AJR:197, July 2011

OBJECTIVE
• The purposes of this study were to investigate the prevalence of the
incidental finding of renal masses at low-dose unenhanced CT and to
analyze the results for features that can be used to guide evaluation.
 MATERIALS AND METHODS
• Images from unenhanced CT colonographic examinations of 3001
consecutively registered adults without symptoms (1667 women,
1334 men; mean age, 57 years) were retrospectively reviewed for the
presence of cystic and solid renal masses 1 cm in diameter or larger.

• An index mass, that is, the most complex or concerning, in each

patient was assessed for size, mean attenuation, and morphologic
features.
• Masses containing fat or with attenuation less than 20 HU or greater
than 70 HU were considered benign if they did not contain thickened
walls or septations, three or more septations, mural nodules, or thick
calcifications.

• Masses with attenuation between 20 and 70 HU or any of these

features were considered indeterminate.
• Septations were categorized as either few (one or two) or many
(three or more) and as thin (1–2 mm) or thick (3 mm or greater in
width).
• Calcifications were categorized as either thin or thick.
• Index masses were categorized and divided into indeterminate and benign subsets based on
criteria adapted from the Bosniak classification of cystic renal masses and additional
literature.

• Although the Bosniak classification does not strictly apply to unenhanced CT, we used the
defining features as the starting point for lesion classification.

• First, masses without thick calcifications that contained regions of fat (defined as an
attenuation of –10 HU or less) were considered benign; the presence of fat in a noncalcified
renal mass allows the diagnosis of a benign angiomyolipoma.
• Bosniak category I and II masses also are considered benign. Bosniak
category I cysts are homogeneously hypodense (< 20 HU) and have
smooth, thin walls.

• Masses were considered Bosniak category II, and therefore benign, if they
contained few (< 3) thin (1–2 mm) septa or thin (1–2 mm) calcifications.

• A benign hyperdense cyst is a subset of Bosniak category II if it measures

less than 3 cm in diameter or Bosniak category IIF if it is larger.
• Although the definitive diagnosis of a benign hyperdense cyst requires the mass
to be nonenhancing, we considered homogeneously hyperattenuating masses
with attenuation 70 HU or greater benign.

• Masses with these features have been found to be benign with high probability.
• The other index masses were considered indeterminate. Unenhanced
CT features that rendered the index mass indeterminate included
mean attenuation between 20 and 70 HU, thickened (≥ 3 mm) or
more than three septations, thick (≥ 3 mm) calcifications, a thickened
wall, and mural nodules.

• Masses were considered benign if subsequent imaging and clinical

follow-up records did not contain a diagnosis of a renal malignancy in
a minimum clinical or imaging follow-up period of 2 years.
 RESULTS
• At least one renal mass was identified in 433 (14.4%) patients.
• The mean size of the index masses was 25 ± 16 mm;
• 376 (86.8%) masses were classified as benign and
• 57 (13.2%) as indeterminate.
• The 20- to 70-HU attenuation criterion alone was used for
classification of 53 indeterminate lesions.
• Follow-up data (mean follow-up period, 4.4 years; range, 2–6.3 years)
were available for 353 (81.5%) patients with masses (41
indeterminate, 312 benign).
• Four of the 41 indeterminate masses were diagnosed as renal cell
carcinoma.
• The sensitivity and specificity for renal cell carcinoma on the basis of
the indeterminate criteria were 100% and 89.4%. The positive and
negative predictive values were 9.8% and 100%.
• According to the specific criteria, categorization of renal masses into
indeterminate and benign sets resulted in a sensitivity, specificity,
positive predictive value, and negative predictive value for renal cell
carcinoma of 100% (4/4), 89.4% (312/349), 9.8% (4/41), and 100%
(312/312).
• Two additional patients who had index masses considered benign
later were found to have renal cell carcinoma with masses measuring
2.3 and 3.3 cm.
• Both of these lesions were detected approximately 3 years after the
initial CT colonographic examination. Neither tumor originated from
the index mass or any other identifiable mass.
• For both patients, review of the initial CT colonographic images was
repeated, and neither mass was identified, even in retrospect.
 CONCLUSION
• Asymptomatic renal masses 1 cm in diameter or larger are common incidental
findings at unenhanced CT.
• The results of this study suggest that most of these masses can be considered
benign when they are evaluated for attenuation and morphologic features.
• As has been previously established, angiomyolipoma can be diagnosed when
fat is identified in a noncalcified mass.
• It also appears that noncalcified renal masses that do not cross into the 20- to
70-HU zone also can be considered benign.
• Although several morphologic features can render a mass
indeterminate, our findings show that unenhanced attenuation alone
(i.e., 20–70 HU) is a useful determinant for identifying indeterminate
masses that may represent renal cell carcinoma and necessitate further
workup.
• Although malignant renal tumors with attenuation outside the 20- to
70-HU range were not encountered in our study population, the
presence of other indeterminate features (e.g., thick septations and
calcification) may still warrant further evaluation. Despite the relatively
large scale of our study, further research is needed to validate our
findings.
 Finally
• The incidental finding of a renal mass is relatively common at
unenhanced CT, but imaging criteria can be used for reliable
identification of most of these lesions as benign without further
workup. Mean attenuation alone appears reliable for determining
which renal masses need further evaluation.
• https://www.ajronline.org/doi/full/10.2214/AJR.10.5920

• https://www.ajronline.org/doi/pdfplus/10.2214/AJR.10.5920