Why Every Renal Mass is Not Always a Surgical Lesion. The Need for an Orderly, Logical, Diagnostic Approach

The fact that approximately 95 per cent of asymptomatic renal masses are benign is a compelling reason for the streamlined diagnostic approach which is described herein. Within the confines of these guidelines for the study of renal masses, when proceeding from simple to complex methods of evaluation, one should always consider the age of the patient, the status of the cardiovascular system, the radiologic appearance of the mass on drip infusion nephrotomography and the results of renal echography as qualifying determinants and then propose the logical sequence of individualized studies under the best possible circumstances.