Genitourinary Imaging: Part 2, Role of Imaging in Medical Management of Advanced Renal Cell Carcinoma

Objective: Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) comprises 80-85% of all primary renal neoplasms. Knowledge of the genetic and molecular features of RCC and the advent of molecular targeted therapy have revolutionized the treatment of RCC in the past decade. This article will review the changing role of the radiologist in the management of advanced RCC, especially in terms of the new relevance of RCC subtypes, treatment-related changes on imaging, new tumor response criteria, and commonly encountered molecular targeted therapy-related toxicities.

Conclusion: In this era of personalized cancer treatment, imaging has assumed a central role in treatment selection and follow-up of advanced RCC.