Ultrasound screening of renal cell carcinomas

The increasing number of incidentally by ultrasound detected small renal cell carcinomas raises the question of the practicability and efficacy of a systematic screening for renal cell carcinoma by ultrasound. A two year screening program for renal cell carcinoma (RCC) was established for the general population (age > 40 years) in two cities, Mainz and Wuppertal. In cooperation with different health insurers, the organizers recruited general practitioners, internists and urologists in private practice who were experienced in and equipped for performing renal ultrasound. The screening was offered in the form of a cost free renal ultrasound in the first year and a re-examination in the second year. For any equivocal/positive renal mass, a reference ultrasound was provided the urology departments at the two university hospitals. 9959 volunteers participated in the screening program (49% male, 51% female) in the first year. The mean age was 61 (40-94) years. 79% of these participants returned for re-examination in the second year. Thirteen (0.1%) subjects were found to have a renal mass, of which nine were RCC. The sensitivity of the program was 82% (one year of follow-up). The predictive value was 2% for equivocal findings on initial exam and 50% for positive findings. The incidence of other abnormal findings was 12%. The screening program was well accepted by physicians in private practice and by the eligible population. The method proved effective, especially if equivocal findings were re-studied by reference sonography before further imaging studies such as CT and MRI were performed.