High-spatial-resolution 3D balanced turbo field-echo technique for MR angiography of the renal arteries: initial experience.
OBJECTIVE
To compare a multislab balanced turbo field-echo magnetic resonance (MR) angiographic technique, without the use of a contrast agent, with digital subtraction angiography (DSA) for imaging of the renal arteries.


METHODS
Twenty-five randomly selected patients (eight women and 17 men; age range, 27-88 years; mean age, 72 years) suspected of having renal artery stenosis underwent both DSA and balanced turbo field-echo MR angiography. A consensus result was obtained among three radiologists in evaluation of main renal arteries on balanced turbo field-echo images and DSA images. Sensitivity, specificity, and negative and positive predictive values of the balanced turbo field-echo technique were calculated, and receiver operating characteristic analysis was performed for depiction of hemodynamically significant stenosis. Cohen kappa analysis was used to assess agreement between the two imaging methods in grading of stenoses and depiction of significant stenosis. Accessory renal arteries also were evaluated.


RESULTS
Fifty main renal arteries and 11 accessory arteries were fully depicted with DSA. DSA depicted 11 stenotic lesions in the main renal arteries. In comparison, balanced turbo field-echo MR angiography enabled visualization of 46 of 50 main renal arteries to their first branching points and depicted 10 of 11 accessory arteries. Sensitivity, specificity, negative predictive value, and positive predictive value of this technique for depiction of significant stenosis were 100% (four of four), 98% (41 of 42), 100% (41 of 41), and 80% (four of five), respectively. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.988. kappa was 0.782 for grading of stenoses and 0.877 for depiction of significant stenosis.


CONCLUSIONS
Multislab balanced turbo field-echo imaging has potential as an MR angiography technique for depiction of normal and diseased renal arteries.
Coenegrachts
Kenneth L
KL
Department of Radiology and Laboratory of Medical Imaging Research, University Hospitals Gasthuisberg, Herestraat 49, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium. kcoenegrachts74@yahoo.com
Hoogeveen
Romhild M
RM
Vaninbroukx
Johan A
JA
Bosmans
Hilde T
HT
Bielen
Didier J
DJ
Maleux
Geert
G
Maes
Frederik
F
Hamaekers
Pascal
P
Oyen
Raymond H
RH
Marchal
Guy J
GJ
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015901:Angiography, Digital Subtraction; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011857:Radiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D012078:Renal Artery Obstruction / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index