Assessment of renal artery stenosis of transplanted kidney by time resolved gadolinium-enhanced three-dimensional MR angiography. Preliminary phantom study and clinical evaluation

The purpose of this study was to determine a suitable imaging parameters of time-resolved Gd-enhanced three-dimensional MR angiography (TRE3DMRA) for the evaluation of renal artery stenosis of transplanted kidneys and to investigate the usefulness of TRE3DMRA in 166 clinical cases. Source images were obtained 3dFLASH with zero-filling interpolation (turbo MRA) using Siemens Magneton 1.5T. Acrylate tubes with 6 mm inner diameter filled with diluted Gd-DTPA were used as special phantoms. In the tubes, 25%, 50%, and 75% stenosis were made for simulating arterial stenosis, respectively. According to our clinical experiences, we decided 10 seconds or less acquisition time to obtaining renal artery images without overlapping with renal veins. To determine slice thickness, the degrees of stenosis of the phantom images obtained 8-second acquisition time in variable slice thickness were independently interpreted with visual inspection by two experienced diagnostic radiologists. One hundred sixty-six patients underwent renal transplantation were evaluated clinically. Using a power injector, 0.1 mmol/kg Gd-DTPA was injected after the test scan with 1 ml Gd-DTPA for the determination of acquisition timing. MR images were obtained in the following imaging parameters; 4-mm slice thickness and 8-second acquisition time based on the results of phantom studies. Source images were noted in oblique coronal direction encompassing the entire renal arteries from iliac arteries to renal hili. Based on phantom study, slice thickness must be less than 4-mm to demonstrate the significant stenotic portion (>50%) of the phantom simulating transplanted renal artery. In 150 of 166 patients, excellent images of renal arteries were obtained without overlapping with renal veins. Causes of poor images were mainly inadequate timing of image acquisition. We can decide the imaging parameters of TRE3DMRA for the evaluation of renal artery stenosis of transplanted kidneys. Using these parameters, in 150 out of 166 patients obtained excellent images of renal arteries without overlapping with renal veins on TRE3DMRA. (author)