Renal Tumour Imaging Using MRI

This study investigates whether new types of MRI scans can tell the difference between different kidney tumours before surgery. Currently, imaging scans can detect kidney tumours and their size, but they aren't effective at determining the tumour type or its aggressiveness. Biopsies are an option, but they are invasive and may miss important cancerous cells. The aim is to use imaging to determine which tumours are aggressive so they can be treated early while avoiding unnecessary treatment of benign tumours. Patients with small renal tumours (≤ 7 cm) who meet the other inclusion and exclusion criteria will be asked to have an additional MRI scan at University College London Hospital prior to surgery. The imaging findings will be compared to the histology result from the removed tumour. In 10 patients the histology will be targeted to a specific location in the tumour based on the imaging. 10 patients will undergo a repeat MRI \<14 d apart to test whether the MRI scans can give the same answer twice (the test repeatability). The study is expected to run for 24 months and is funded by NIHR. The chief investigator for the study is Dr Richard Hesketh (rhesketh@ucl.ac.uk).