The relation between apparent diffusion coefficient and clinical stage of clear-cell renal cell carcinoma.

Abstract Purpose The utility of the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) in patients with clear-cell renal cell carcinoma (RCC) for distinguishing between the four clinical stages was assessed. Methods Forty-nine patients with pathologically proven RCCs (I, II, III, IV; 27, 5, 10, 7) were included. The ADC was compared between each stage. Results The difference of ADC between stage I and the more advanced stages (III and IV) was statistically significant. Conclusions When ADC in primary tumor site of clear-cell RCC would be higher than the cutoff level, the stage might not be an advanced stage (III or IV).