[Novelties and new possibilities in the radiological diagnostics of kidney and ureter tumors].

The author analyses the opportunities granted by diagnostic imaging for the early perception of kidney and urethral tumors and exact tumor staging. The wide-scale application of non-invasive ultrasound scans has lead to an increase in incidentalomas. Volumetric (multidetector or dual source) CT scans, the various MR techniques and, more recently, PET/CT scans have largely contributed to the exact preoperative staging of tumorous diseases, and help characterize the tumors found. In the case of small kidney tumors, attempts are made to decide which masses require operation and which do not, based on the tumor's absorption of the contrast agent and its wash-out intensity as observed by dynamic contrast-enhanced scans. The author points out that despite the achieved development, especially in terms of small tumors, image-guided biopsies still play a significant role. Medical imaging techniques are also indispensable for post-therapy follow-up of patients (PET/CT, CT and MR perfusion imaging).