US, CT, and MR evaluation of accessory renal arteries and proximal renal arterial branches.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to compare color Doppler ultrasound (US), computed tomographic (CT) angiography, and magnetic resonance (MR) angiography for the evaluation of accessory renal arteries and proximal branches of the main renal artery.


METHODS
Fifty-six subjects who had undergone conventional arteriography of the renal arteries participated in a prospective comparison of Doppler US (45 patients), CT angiography (52 patients), and nonenhanced MR angiography (28 patients). Conventional arteriography depicted 28 accessory renal arteries and 21 proximal branches of the main renal artery within 2 cm of the aorta.


RESULTS
US depicted five of 24 accessory renal arteries seen at arteriography but no proximal arterial branches. CT angiography depicted 24 of 26 accessory renal arteries and 13 of 17 proximal arterial branches, as well as 15 additional accessory renal arteries not seen at conventional arteriography. MR demonstrated 11 of 15 accessory arteries, as well as four additional accessory arteries not seen at conventional arteriography. MR did not depict any of nine proximal arterial branches seen at conventional arteriography.


CONCLUSIONS
When compared with US or nonenhanced MR angiography, CT is the preferred method for evaluation of accessory renal arteries and proximal branches of the renal artery.
Halpern
E J
EJ
Department of Radiology, Jefferson Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA 19107-5244, USA.
Nazarian
L N
LN
Wechsler
R J
RJ
Mitchell
D G
DG
Outwater
E K
EK
Levin
D C
DC
Gardiner
G A
GA
Feldman
H I
HI
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000792:Angiography; D006801:Humans; D006977:Hypertension, Renal / Q000473:pathology; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012077:Renal Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color