Intrarenal color duplex ultrasonography: a window to vascular complications of renal transplants.
OBJECTIVE
We analyze and discuss the importance of intrarenal color duplex ultrasonography (CDUS) in the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of vascular complications in renal transplants.


METHODS
We retrospectively reviewed results of CDUS, especially intrarenal CDUS, in 102 consecutive inpatients with vascular complications of renal transplants from January 1, 2000, to December 31, 2006. Correlations between CDUS and magnetic resonance angiography, digital subtraction angiography, surgical findings, and clinical diagnoses were studied.


RESULTS
Abnormal findings on intrarenal CDUS clearly represent vascular complications primarily located at the main renal vessels and intrarenal vessels. In our study, there were 5 cases of false-negative intrarenal arteriovenous fistulas, 1 case of false-positive transplant renal vein thrombosis, and 2 cases of false-negative transplant renal artery stenosis. The accuracy of detecting vascular complications of renal transplants with CDUS was 92% (94/102).


CONCLUSIONS
Intrarenal CDUS is a noninvasive, accurate diagnostic tool that can be administrated portably and is easily repeatable, thereby making it not only a highly valuable imaging technique but also the method of choice in screening and diagnosing vascular complications of renal transplants.
Gao
Jing
J
Department of Radiology, New York Presbyterian Hospital-Weill Cornell Medical Center, 525 E 68th St, Starr 8A 27, New York, NY 10021, USA. jig2001@med.cornell.edu
Ng
Amelia
A
Shih
George
G
Goldstein
Michael
M
Kapur
Sandip
S
Wang
John
J
Min
Robert J
RJ
D015901:Angiography, Digital Subtraction; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000098:blood supply; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color; D014652:Vascular Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*