Distinguishing common renal cell carcinomas from benign renal tumors based on machine learning: comparing various CT imaging phases, slices, tumor sizes, and ROI segmentation strategies.

• A machine learning classifier based on CT images could be a reliable way to differentiate RCCs from benign renal tumors. • The machine learning model perfectly complemented the radiologists' interpretations. • Subtle variances in ROI delineation had little effect on the performance of the ML classifier.