PURPOSE: We evaluated the outcome and etiologies of small renal masses (less than 1 cm in size) discovered incidentally on 2 consecutive CTs that investigated non-urologic abdominal complaints. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective search for incidentally discovered small renal masses, less then 1 cm in size, was carried out in the files of 6 major US medical centers. 4822 such lesions had been reported over a 12 year period. A search of these patients' records revealed 1082 subsequent new CTs for non urologic complaints, allowing the assessment of the fate of the masses. Lesions enlarging, of ambivalent contour or enhancement were examined by a third multiphasic MDCT. The findings were interpreted by 2 blinded radiologists. RESULTS: Six hundred and four masses could no longer be identified, 231 were significantly smaller, 113 unchanged in size and 134 larger. Of the disappearing lesions 448 were located in the medulla, 94 both in medulla and cortex and 62 in cortex. Multiphasic MDCTs obtained in 308 masses enlarging, unchanged in size or of ambivalent appearance, revealed 7 neoplasms, 45 inflammatory lesions, 8 abscesses and 62 renal medullary necrosis. Concurrent antibiotic therapy of GI conditions may have caused some of the 496 lesions to disappear. CONCLUSION: It is questionable whether the small number of malignant neoplasms (0.4%), inflammatory lesions (5%) and renal medullary necrosis (6%) justify routine follow-up CTs and exposure to radiation. The delay in intervention in neoplastic lesions probably didn't influence tumor-free survival potential and clinical symptoms would soon have revealed inflammatory conditions. With exception of ambivalent lesions, clinical surveillance appears adequate.

PURPOSE: We sought to identify racial differences among histological subtypes of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) between black and non-black patients in an equal-access health care system. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We established a multi-institutional, prospective database of patients undergoing partial or radical nephrectomy between January 1, 2000 and Sept 31, 2009. For the purposes of this study, data captured included age at diagnosis, race, tumor size, presence of lymphovascular invasion, presence of capsular invasion, margin status, and tumor histology. RESULTS: 204 kidney tumors were identified (Table-1). Of these, 117 (57.4%) were in black patients and 87 (42.6%) were in non-black patients. Age at surgery ranged from 37 to 87 with a median of 62. Tumor size ranged from 1.0 to 22.0 cm with a median of 5.0 cm. Overall, tumors were composed of clear cell RCC in 97 cases (47.5%), papillary RCC in 65 cases (31.9%), chromophobe RCC in 13 cases (6.4%), collecting duct/medullary RCC in 2 cases (1.0%), RCC with multiple histological subtypes in 8 cases (3.9%), malignant tumors of other origin in 6 cases (2.9%), and benign histology in 13 cases (6.4%). Among black patients, papillary RCC was seen in 56 cases (47.9%), compared to 9 cases (10.3%) among non-black patients (p < 0.001) (Table-2). Clear cell RCC was present in 38 (32.5%) of black patients and in 59 (67.8%) of non-blacks (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In our study, papillary RCC had a much higher occurrence among black patients compared to non-black patients. This is the first study to document such a great racial disparity among RCC subtypes.

PURPOSE: When faced with biochemical recurrence after definitive radiotherapy for prostate cancer, clinicians must determine whether the recurrence is local or systemic. Post radiotherapy prostate biopsies to detect persistent local disease are difficult to interpret histopathologically and are subject to sampling error. Our study examines outcomes for patients with a negative prostate biopsy performed for rising prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels after prostate radiation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of 238 prostate cancer patients with a negative biopsy following definitive radiotherapy. Seventy-five of these patients had biochemical recurrence at the time of biopsy. A negative biopsy was defined as the absence of prostate cancer without radiation-treatment effect in the specimen. RESULTS: Patients underwent biopsy at a mean of 41 months after the completion of radiation. They had a mean PSA of 6. Patients were followed for an average of 63 months. Thirty-two patients (43%) developed metastasis, and 11 (15%) died of prostate cancer despite a negative post-radiation biopsy. Five of nine patients (56%) with sequential biopsies had a positive second biopsy. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with PSA recurrence and a negative post-radiation biopsy have a high chance of persistent local disease, progression, and death from prostate cancer. Furthermore, an initial negative biopsy does not rule-out local recurrence. Patients with biochemical recurrence after radiotherapy for prostate cancer need to be evaluated earlier for local recurrence.