Renal artery evaluation: comparison of spiral CT angiography to intra-arterial DSA.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the role of spiral computed tomographic angiography (CTA) in renal artery evaluation.


METHODS
The authors prospectively performed both CTA and intraarterial digital subtraction angiography (IA-DSA) in 50 consecutive patients (24 males and 26 females) who ranged between 9 and 77 years old (mean, 39.3 years), in whom renovascular hypertension was suspected (n = 32) or who were potential renal donors (n = 18). The major scan parameters of CTA were 3-mm collimation, 4-5-mm/sec table speed, and 2-mm reconstruction interval. Both CTA and IA-DSA images were blindly interpreted by two radiologists with respect to the number of accessory renal arteries and the location and severity of renal artery stenosis.


RESULTS
CTA demonstrated 27 of 28 accessory renal arteries (detection rate = 96%). For the detection of stenoses greater than 50% (37 of 127 renal arteries, at 40 sites), the sensitivity and specificity of CTA were 90% and 97%, respectively. For the detection of stenoses greater than 50% in the main renal arteries (32 of 99 main renal arteries, at 32 sites), the sensitivity and specificity of CTA were 100% and 97%, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
CTA is a reliable and accurate screening modality for the evaluation of renal arteries in patients with suspected renovascular hypertension and in potential renal donors.
Department of Radiology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Korea.
T S
TS
Kim
J W
JW
Chung
J H
JH
Park
S H
SH
Kim
K M
KM
Yeon
M C
MC
Han
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000792:Angiography; D015901:Angiography, Digital Subtraction; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006978:Hypertension, Renovascular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012078:Renal Artery Obstruction / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014019:Tissue Donors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed