Left adrenal vein localization by 3D real-time volume-rendering CTA before laparoscopic nephrectomy in living renal donors.
BACKGROUND
We investigated whether the left adrenal vein could be consistently localized on three-dimensional (3D) real-time volume-rendering computed tomographic angiographic (CTA) mapping in a group of living renal donors before laparoscopic nephrectomy.


METHODS
Sixty-six consecutive potential renal donors were referred for CTA vascular mapping before laparoscopic donor nephrectomy. Thirty-three patients were examined on a single-detector helical CT scanner and the other 33 were examined on a multidetector unit. In each patient, arterial phase and venous phase volumetric data sets were acquired after the intravenous injection of 150 cc of non-ionic contrast material. Three radiologists reviewed the data sets at a free-standing workstation after the application of 3D volume-rendering software and reached a consensus on whether the left adrenal vein was visualized and, when seen, its position relative to the abdominal aorta.


RESULTS
The left adrenal vein was found in 92.5% of the 66 donors (91% in the single-detector group and 94% in the multidetector group). The junction of the left adrenal vein and left renal vein averaged 5.2 mm (range = 0-13 mm) from the left lateral wall of the abdominal aorta.


CONCLUSIONS
Three-dimensional real-time volume-rendering CTA with single-detector and multidetector scanners permits consistent localization of the left adrenal vein in more than 90 % of prospective living renal donors.
Scatarige
J C
JC
Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 601 North Caroline Street, JHOC Room 3254, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA.
Horton
K M
KM
Ratner
L E
LE
Fishman
E K
EK
D000311:Adrenal Glands / Q000098:blood supply*; D000792:Angiography / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D010535:Laparoscopy; D019520:Living Donors; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009392:Nephrectomy / Q000379:methods; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*; D014680:Veins