Potential renal transplant donors: evaluation with gadolinium-enhanced MR angiography and MR urography.
OBJECTIVE
To determine prospectively the feasibility and accuracy of combined gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance (MR) angiography, MR urography, and MR nephrography in the presurgical evaluation of potential renal transplant donors.


METHODS
Twenty-two potential donors for renal transplantation were evaluated with 1.5-T MR imaging. MR angiograms were evaluated for the number of renal arteries, presence of early arterial branches, and renal artery stenoses. The renal collecting system and ureters were evaluated on the MR urograms. Renal parenchyma was assessed on the MR nephrogram. Prospective interpretation of MR images was compared with that of conventional angiograms and excretory urograms and with surgical findings.


RESULTS
Gadolinium-enhanced MR angiography enabled correct identification of the arterial supply to all 44 native kidneys (44 single or dominant renal arteries and nine accessory renal arteries), four of five early arterial branches arising in the proximal 2 cm of the renal artery, a mild truncal stenosis in one renal artery, and two anomalies of the draining renal veins. The MR urogram accurately depicted a duplicated collecting system and mild unilateral pelvicalicectasis. The MR nephrogram showed renal size and a solitary cyst in one kidney, confirmed with sonography.


CONCLUSIONS
Combined gadolinium-enhanced MR angiography, MR urography, and MR nephrography can accurately depict the arterial supply, collecting system, and renal parenchyma of donor kidneys.
Low
R N
RN
Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Sharp Memorial Hospital, San Diego, CA 92123, USA.
Martinez
A G
AG
Steinberg
S M
SM
Alzate
G D
GD
Kortman
K E
KE
Bower
B B
BB
Dwyer
W J
WJ
Prince
S K
SK
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003287:Contrast Media; D005260:Female; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007668:Kidney / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D019520:Living Donors; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012077:Renal Artery / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D012082:Renal Veins / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D014513:Ureter / Q000033:anatomy & histology*
D003287:Contrast Media; C064925:gadodiamide; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA