Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40448001›Full record

ArticleBMC medical imaging2025

Radiomics-based differentiation of upper urinary tract urothelial and renal cell carcinoma in preoperative computed tomography datasets.

Julian Marcon, Philipp Weinhold, Mona Rzany, Matthias P Fabritius, Michael Winkelmann, Alexander Buchner, Lennert Eismann, Jan-Friedrich Jokisch, Jozefina Casuscelli, Gerald B Schulz and 6 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC medical imaging, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Review
  3. [Innovative imaging techniques for urothelial carcinoma].Urologie (Heidelberg, Germany) · 2026
    Review
  4. Review
  5. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

16 authors.

Julian Marcon *Department of Urology, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Marchioninistr. 15, 81377, Munich, Germany. julian.marcon@med.uni-muenchen.de.
Philipp Weinhold *Department of Urology, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Marchioninistr. 15, 81377, Munich, Germany.
Mona RzanyDepartment of Urology, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Marchioninistr. 15, 81377, Munich, Germany.
Matthias P FabritiusDepartment of Radiology, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany.
Michael WinkelmannDepartment of Radiology, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany.
Alexander BuchnerDepartment of Urology, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Marchioninistr. 15, 81377, Munich, Germany.
Lennert EismannDepartment of Urology, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Marchioninistr. 15, 81377, Munich, Germany.
Jan-Friedrich JokischDepartment of Urology, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Marchioninistr. 15, 81377, Munich, Germany.
Jozefina CasuscelliDepartment of Urology, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Marchioninistr. 15, 81377, Munich, Germany.
Gerald B SchulzDepartment of Urology, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Marchioninistr. 15, 81377, Munich, Germany.
Thomas KnöselDepartment of Pathology, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany.
Michael IngrischDepartment of Radiology, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany.
Jens RickeDepartment of Radiology, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany.
Christian G StiefDepartment of Urology, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Marchioninistr. 15, 81377, Munich, Germany.
Severin Rodler *Department of Urology, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Marchioninistr. 15, 81377, Munich, Germany.
Philipp M Kazmierczak *Department of Radiology, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundTo investigate a non-invasive radiomics-based machine learning algorithm to differentiate upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) from renal cell carcinoma (RCC) prior to surgical intervention.

methodsPreoperative computed tomography venous-phase datasets from patients that underwent procedures for histopathologically confirmed UTUC or RCC were retrospectively analyzed. Tumor segmentation was performed manually, and radiomic features were extracted according to the International Image Biomarker Standardization Initiative. Features were normalized using z-scores, and a predictive model was developed using the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO). The dataset was split into a training cohort (70%) and a test cohort (30%).

resultsA total of 236 patients [30.5% female, median age 70.5 years (IQR: 59.5-77), median tumor size 5.8 cm (range: 4.1-8.2 cm)] were included. For differentiating UTUC from RCC, the model achieved a sensitivity of 88.4% and specificity of 81% (AUC: 0.93, radiomics score cutoff: 0.467) in the training cohort. In the validation cohort, the sensitivity was 80.6% and specificity 80% (AUC: 0.87, radiomics score cutoff: 0.601). Subgroup analysis of the validation cohort demonstrated robust performance, particularly in distinguishing clear cell RCC from high-grade UTUC (sensitivity: 84%, specificity: 73.1%, AUC: 0.84) and high-grade from low-grade UTUC (sensitivity: 57.7%, specificity: 88.9%, AUC: 0.68). Limitations include the need for independent validation in future randomized controlled trials (RCTs).

conclusionsMachine learning-based radiomics models can reliably differentiate between RCC and UTUC in preoperative CT imaging. With a suggested performance benefit compared to conventional imaging, this technology might be added to the current preoperative diagnostic workflow. CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER: Local ethics committee no. 20-179.

Indexed as

Carcinoma, Renal CellCarcinoma, Transitional CellKidney NeoplasmsTomography, X-Ray ComputedUrologic NeoplasmsAgedDiagnosis, DifferentialFemaleHumansMachine LearningMaleMiddle AgedRadiomicsRetrospective StudiesSensitivity and SpecificityMachine learningRadiomicsRenal cell carcinomaUpper tract urothelial carcinoma

Identifiers

PMID40448001
PMCPMC12123764

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.