Detection and characterization of renal masses and staging of renal cancers: new considerations in the era of helical computed tomography.

With the introduction of helical CT and its ability to acquire images very rapidly, new problems are being encountered, which can profoundly affect the quality of CT examinations performed for evaluation of known or suspected renal masses. In this article, these problems are summarized and recommendations made for CT techniques that will maximize sensitivity and specificity in renal mass detection, accuracy in renal mass characterization, and accuracy in staging of renal cancer.