The clinical diagnosis of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is constantly evolving. Diagnostic imaging of RCC relying on enhanced computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is commonly used for renal mass characterization and assessment of tumour thrombosis, whereas pathology is the gold standard for establishing diagnosis. However, molecular imaging is rapidly improving the clinical management of RCC, particularly clear-cell RCC. Molecular imaging aids in the non-invasive visualization and characterization of specific biomarkers such as carbonic anhydrase IX and CD70 within the tumours, which help to assess tumour heterogeneity and status. Target-specific molecular imaging of RCCs will substantially improve the diagnostic landscape of RCC and will further facilitate clinical decision-making regarding initial staging and re-staging, monitoring of recurrence and metastasis, patient stratification and selection, and the prediction and evaluation of treatment responses.

肾细胞癌 （RCC） 的临床诊断在不断发展。依靠增强型计算机断层扫描 （CT） 和磁共振成像 （MRI） 的 RCC 诊断成像通常用于肾脏肿块特征和肿瘤血栓形成的评估，而病理学是确定诊断的金标准。然而，分子成像正在迅速改善 RCC 的临床管理，尤其是透明细胞 RCC。分子成像有助于对肿瘤内的碳酸酐酶 IX 和 CD70 等特定生物标志物进行无创可视化和表征，这有助于评估肿瘤的异质性和状态。RCC 的靶标特异性分子成像将大大改善 RCC 的诊断前景，并将进一步促进有关初始分期和再分期、复发和转移监测、患者分层和选择以及治疗反应预测和评估的临床决策。