Evaluation of renal vascular in living donors before transplantation using dynamic contrast enhanced MR angiography

Objective: To explore whether dynamic contrast-enhanced MRA (DCE MRA) can provide an effective assessment of renal vascular in living donors before transplantation. Methods: Thirty five healthy living renal donor candidates were scanned on MR system before transplantation. After injection of Gd-DTPA 1 ml in vein, a test-bolus scan was used to get the time delay of Gd-DTPA reaching renal artery. Then, a 3D T1-weighted fast low-angle shot sequence (3D FLASH) was performed in the coronal plane. The 3D FLASH scan would repeat four times with an inter-phase of 10 seconds. Thus, the imaging of the renal arterial, venous and collecting systems were got. Two radiologists observed renal arteries and veins on original imaging and MIP reconstmcted imaging. The quality of MR angiography was evaluated on a five- point scale and the vascular anatomy or variations of the arterial and venous systems were recorded, using intraoperative findings as a standard of reference. Results: The quality for all MRA was good or very good for the most of living renal donors. Among 70 renals, several variations of vascular were found, including 5 left accessory artery, 9 right accessory artery, 3 left proximal arterial branch and 6 right proximal arterial branch. Among 70 renal veins, 1 right accessory veins and 2 left varicocele were observed. One small accessory artery of right kidney was missed with DCE MRA, but identified by operation. Conclusion: DCE MRA was noninvasive tool for evaluation of the renal vasculature and variations with high accuracy. It would be a good modality in preoperative evaluation of living renal donors. (authors)