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Bosniak classification of cystic renal masses, version 2019: interpretation pitfalls and recommendations to avoid misclassification

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Abstract

The purpose of this review is to describe the potential sources of variability or discrepancy in interpretation of cystic renal masses under the Bosniak v2019 classification system. Strategies to avoid these pitfalls and clinical examples of diagnostic approaches are also presented. Potential pitfalls in the application of Bosniak v2019 are divided into three categories: interpretative, technical, and mass related. An organized, comprehensive review of possible discrepancies in interpreting Bosniak v2019 cystic masses is presented with pictorial examples of difficult clinical cases and proposed solutions. The scheme provided can guide readers to consistent, precise application of the classification system. Radiologists should be aware of the possible sources of misinterpretation of cystic renal masses when applying Bosniak v2019. Knowing which features and types of cystic masses are prone to interpretive errors, in addition to the inherent trade-offs between the CT and MR techniques used to characterize them, can help radiologists avoid these pitfalls.

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Funding

This work was partially supported by NIH Grant R01CA154475 (IP).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA

    Elizabeth Edney

  2. Departments of Radiology and Urology, Michigan Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA

    Matthew S. Davenport

  3. Department of Radiology, Michigan Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA

    Nicole Curci

  4. Department of Medical Imaging, The Ottawa Hospital, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada

    Nicola Schieda

  5. Joint Department of Medical Imaging, University Health Network, Mount Sinai Hospital and Women’s College Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada

    Satheesh Krishna

  6. Department of Radiology, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, USA

    Nicole Hindman

  7. Department of Radiology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA

    Stuart G. Silverman

  8. Department of Radiology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA

    Ivan Pedrosa

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  1. Elizabeth Edney
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  2. Matthew S. Davenport
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  7. Stuart G. Silverman
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  8. Ivan Pedrosa
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Contributions

EE, NC, SK, NS and IP performed the literature search and drafted the manuscript. MSD, NH, SS, and IP critically revised the manuscript and contributed case examples.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Elizabeth Edney.

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Conflict of interest

Matthew S. Davenport receives royalties from Wolters Kluwer and uptodate.com. Ivan Pedrosa received an honorarium from Bayer Healthcare and has received stock options from Health Tech International. He also has institutional research agreements with Philips Healthcare and with Siemens Healthcare. Ivan Pedrosa serves on the Scientific Advisory Board for Bayer Healthcare and is a Scientific Advisor for Health Tech International. He has also been a Co-inventor of patents (no royalties received) for Philips Healthcare. Other authors have no disclosures.

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Edney, E., Davenport, M.S., Curci, N. et al. Bosniak classification of cystic renal masses, version 2019: interpretation pitfalls and recommendations to avoid misclassification. Abdom Radiol 46, 2699–2711 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00261-020-02906-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00261-020-02906-8

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