Magnetic resonance urography in children

The imaging methods play an important role in the diagnosing of the urinary tract diseases in children. The magnetic resonance urography (MRU) aids the morphological and functional assessment of the urinary tract as well as the increase of the accuracy of the diagnosing process. Objective: The aim of the study is to assess the capabilities of the MRU for the diagnosing of the urogenital tract in children. Material and methods: In 30 children, age between 20 days and 14 years, suspected for urinary tract pathology MRU is performed. The technique includes a native and contrast examination of the abdomen and the pelvis. The duration, depending on the pathology, is between 20 and 30 min. The axial scans and the 3-dimensional reconstructed images have been processed at different reconstruction angle. The findings have been compared to the other imaging methods applied and the postoperative results. Results: The MRU has allowed to diagnose different types of urogenital diseases in children - 3 with double pyelo-calyx system, 12 with obstructed mega ureter, 5 with obstruction of the pyelo-urinary segment, 5 with accompanying parenchyma anomalies, 6 with renal calculi, 5 with tumors, 1 with extrarenal tumor formation, 3 with bladder anomalies and 1 with kidney transplantation. Most of the children have combined pathology. Conclusions: MRU shows significant advantages in a number of pathological conditions as urinary tract obstruction, renal tumors, transplanted kidney and some congenital anomalies. The technique is safe, non-invasive and relatively fast for children examinations. These features of MRU presents a reason to assume that it will replace a number of conventional radiography techniques, giving more precise diagnostic information