Ultrasound Elastography for the Differentiation of Benign and Malignant Solid Renal Masses: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

The incidental finding of small renal masses in CT and MRI examinations can present a diagnostic challenge. Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) angiomyolipoma (AML) are the most common malignant benign lesions but may with similar US features. elastography is non-invasive technique that assess tissue elasticity, has shown promising results many clinical settings, could be able to differentiate between based on stiffness. purpose this article systematically review applications characterization solid derive compare summary estimates different stiffness values across lesion subtypes. In December 2022, systematic search was carried out MEDLINE (PubMed) EMBASE databases retrieve studies application masses. After selection by three researchers, 14 entered qualitative synthesis. A total 1190 patients were included, data 959 examined: 317/959 (33%) 642/959 (67%) malignant. Among malignancies, 590 (91%) RCC, whereas, among 317 lesions, 244 (77%) AML. All classified using histopathological (biopsy or operative specimen) imaging (US follow-up/CT/MRI) reference standard. extraction methodological quality evaluation, quantitative synthesis performed 12 studies, 4 strain (SE) 8 shear wave (SWE), single- double-arm random-effects meta-analyses. Lesion measured SE available four an RCC ratio higher than AML both indirect comparison (Cochran’s Q test p = 0.014) direct (p 0.021). Conversely, SWE measurements did not significantly differ either at 0.055) 0.114).