Renal magnetic resonance imaging.
OBJECTIVE
Current magnetic resonance imaging systems allow the visualization of normal and diseased kidney, with exquisite resolution of renal structures. Dynamic contrast magnetic resonance imaging has the potential, unique among all noninvasive modalities, to differentiate diseases that affect different portions of the vascular-nephron system. This article reviews the most important recently published studies in selected topics chosen because of their clinical relevance or potential for technical developments.


RESULTS
Magnetic resonance imaging is used increasingly to evaluate renal masses, the prenatal genitourinary system, urinary obstruction and infection, renal vasculature, and the kidneys of transplant donors and recipients. Dynamic contrast magnetic resonance renography based on gadolinium chelated to diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid, a safe (non-nephrotoxic) paramagnetic agent, emerges as the functional renal imaging modality of choice. Both perfusion and filtration rates can be assessed in individual kidney.


CONCLUSIONS
Magnetic resonance imaging has the potential to provide a complete anatomic, physiologic, kidney-specific evaluation. With future advances in automated image analysis methods we can expect functional renal magnetic resonance imaging to play an influential role in management of renal disease.
Department of Radiology, New York University Medical Center, Bellevue C&D building room D120, 550 First Avenue, New York, NY 10016, USA. hr18@nyu.edu
Henry
H
Rusinek
Manmeen
M
Kaur
Vivian S
VS
Lee
D000208:Acute Disease; D005919:Glomerular Filtration Rate; D006801:Humans; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D011704:Pyelonephritis / Q000175:diagnosis; D012079:Renal Circulation; D014553:Urinary Tract Physiological Phenomena; D014566:Urogenital System / Q000196:embryology