MRI Findings in the Diagnosis of Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma with an Intrapelvic Component Mimicking a Urothelial Neoplasm: a Literature Review and Case Report
https://doi.org/10.37174/2587-7593-2026-9-3-100-106
Abstract
An 84-year-old woman presented with two adjacent masses in the left kidney, in whom the MRI features of the upper-pole lesion were consistent with clear cell renal cell carcinoma, while the intrapelvic component mimicked a urothelial neoplasm. Based on the imaging findings and the clinical presentation, intraoperative ureteroscopy was planned to determine the extent of surgery. Ureteroscopy was performed first and revealed a yellowish, encapsulated mass in the upper calyceal group, without papillary projections, consistent with renal cell carcinoma. Nephrectomy was subsequently performed. Histopathological examination demonstrated a single tumor process: clear cell renal cell carcinoma with ulceration and infiltration of the urothelium of the pelvicalyceal system. This case demonstrates the limitations of MRI in differentiating heterogeneous multinodular clear cell renal cell carcinoma from a urothelial tumor and underscores the need for a multidisciplinary approach and mandatory histological verification.
Keywords
kidney,
clear cell renal cell carcinoma,
urothelial carcinoma,
magnetic resonance imaging,
differential diagnosis,
case report
Supporting agencies: The study had no sponsorship.
About the Authors
A. V. Arablinskii
I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University
Russian Federation
Competing Interests:
Russian Federation
8 Trubetskaya str., Moscow, 119048
Competing Interests:
Arablinskii A.V. is a member of the editorial board of the journal "Journal of Oncology: Diagnostic Radiology and Radiotherapy" but had no role in the decision to publish this article. The article has undergone the journal's established peer-review process. The author has declared no other conflicts of interest
A. A. Lyakhovets
I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University
Russian Federation
Competing Interests:
Russian Federation
8 Trubetskaya str., Moscow, 119048
Competing Interests:
The author has declared no conflicts of interest. The article has undergone the journal's established peer-review process
D. V. Makarevich
I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University
Russian Federation
Competing Interests:
Russian Federation
8 Trubetskaya str., Moscow, 119048
Competing Interests:
The author has declared no conflicts of interest. The article has undergone the journal's established peer-review process
R. T. Rzaev
I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University
Russian Federation
Competing Interests:
Russian Federation
8 Trubetskaya str., Moscow, 119048
Competing Interests:
The author has declared no conflicts of interest. The article has undergone the journal's established peer-review process
V. V. Shchegelskii
I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University
Russian Federation
Competing Interests:
Russian Federation
8 Trubetskaya str., Moscow, 119048
Competing Interests:
The author has declared no conflicts of interest. The article has undergone the journal's established peer-review process
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For citations:
Arablinskii A.V., Lyakhovets A.A., Makarevich D.V., Rzaev R.T., Shchegelskii V.V. MRI Findings in the Diagnosis of Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma with an Intrapelvic Component Mimicking a Urothelial Neoplasm: a Literature Review and Case Report. Journal of oncology: diagnostic radiology and radiotherapy. 2026;9(3):100-106. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.37174/2587-7593-2026-9-3-100-106
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