The R.E.N.A.L. nephrometry score in radiologist’s practice

In recent decades, due to advances in imaging and improvements in diagnostic algorithms, there has been a tendency to increase the frequency of detection of small renal masses for which nephron-sparing surgery is possible. To predict the potential complexity of partial nephrectomy and to reduce the degree of subjectivity in choosing the volume and method of surgical procedure, different groups of researchers proposed a significant number of concepts for evaluating renal tumours. The R.E.N.A.L. nephrometry score is one of the first but remains relevant and is based on a set of anatomical characteristics. This score allows to classify renal neoplasms in a structured and standardized way. This article presents a method for evaluating the parameters of R.E.N.A.L. nephrometry score, as well as a brief literature review of its prognostic significance.