Advancements in Imaging and Diagnosing Kidney Cancers: The Future Role of PET Imaging Agents

Panelists discuss how cross-sectional imaging with pre- and postcontrast assessment remains the cornerstone of renal mass imaging, though newer software technologies now allow for better prediction of benign vs malignant tumors.

Panelists discuss how evaluating a renal mass requires considering multiple factors, including patient expectations, comorbidities, life expectancy, tumor characteristics such as size and enhancement patterns, and predictive models to help guide decision-making.

Explore the strengths and weaknesses of imaging modalities like CT, MRI, and ultrasound in diagnosing ccRCC and enhancing patient care.

Explore treatment options for small renal masses, including surveillance, surgery, and biopsy, while understanding the role of ccRCC PET in diagnosis.

Explore the role of biopsies in managing ccRCC, especially in elderly patients, to optimize treatment decisions and preserve kidney function.

Imaging advancements in ccRCC are crucial for predicting tumor biology and enhancing treatment strategies through molecular imaging techniques.

Panelists discuss how deep learning applied to imaging data sets may advance kidney cancer assessment, though they believe the next major leap will require true molecular imaging that reveals what tumors are expressing.

Panelists discuss how PET imaging for kidney cancer includes prostate-specific membrane antigen, which is sometimes expressed in renal cell carcinoma, though its utility remains unclear, whereas fluorodeoxyglucose PET can be useful for metabolic activity assessment despite limitations with inflammatory lesions.