title: Functional magnetic resonance imaging in renal artery stenosis.
abstract: Renal artery stenosis (RAS) is the leading cause of secondary hypertension. Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and in particular MR angiography have evolved into important diagnostic tools for the detection and grading of RAS due to the lack of ionizing radiation and nephrotoxic contrast agent. This review describes state-of-the-art MR angiographic techniques and introduces the reader to current concepts of RAS grading with MR angiography. We compare MR angiography with conventional angiography and intravascular ultrasound as a standard of reference. The technical basis of functional imaging techniques such as arterial spin labeling perfusion measurements, contrast-enhanced perfusion measurements, and MR flow measurements are explained. Their value for the grading and detection of RAS and for the differentiation of renovascular from renal parenchymal disease is discussed. An overview about imaging during and after interventional therapy of RAS and an introduction to the current understanding of prediction of successful interventional therapy finishes this review.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Clinical Radiology, University Hospitals Grosshadern, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Marchioninistrasse 15, 81377 Munich, Germany. stefan.schoenberg@med.uni-muenchen.de
authors.forename: S O
authors.initials: SO
authors.lastname: Schoenberg
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Rieger
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Michaely
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Rupprecht
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Samtleben
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Reiser
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D012078:Renal Artery Obstruction / Q000175:diagnosis*