[Magnetic resonance tomography without and with gadolinium-DTPA for evaluating kidney transplants].
OBJECTIVE
To determine the value of MR imaging in differentiating the various causes of human renal allograft dysfunction.


METHODS
A total of 123 human renal allografts (normal n = 20, acute rejection n = 57, acute tubular necrosis n = 14, interstitial fibrosis n = 11, chromic allograft glomerulopathy n = 11, cyclosporine nephrotoxicity n = 3, cortical necrosis n = 7) were investigated by means of MR imaging. Axial T1-weighted spin-echo images and coronal T1-weighted gradient-echo images were obtained before and after Gd-DTPA injection. Diagnostic parameters included corticomedullary contrast and allograft size and shape on the pre-contrast sequences.


RESULTS
None of the diagnostic parameters used could differentiate among the various diagnostic groups. Diagnostic of cortical necrosis could be made only on post-contrast scans. Contrast-enhanced scans were superior to pre-contrast images in detection of focal allograft lesions. Otherwise, contrast-enhanced scans did not provide any more information than pre-contrast studies. Spin-echo and gradient-echo sequences displayed the same diagnostic value.


CONCLUSIONS
MR imaging has a limited value in differentiating the various causes of renal allograft dysfunction.
Vestring
T
T
Institut für Klinische Radiologie, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster.
Dietl
K H
KH
Heidenreich
S
S
Langenhorst
U
U
Buchholz
B
B
Peters
P E
PE
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003287:Contrast Media; D005260:Female; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA; D006801:Humans; D007238:Infarction / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D007668:Kidney / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology; D007677:Kidney Function Tests; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000473:pathology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D004369:Pentetic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous
D003287:Contrast Media; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D004369:Pentetic Acid; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA