Non-enhanced MR angiography of renal artery using inflow-sensitive inversion recovery pulse sequence: a prospective comparison with enhanced CT angiography.
OBJECTIVE
To prospectively evaluate the diagnostic value of non-enhanced inflow-sensitive inversion recovery (IFIR) MR angiography for the detection of renal artery stenosis (RAS), with enhanced CT angiography performed as the reference standard.


METHODS
Sixty consecutive patients suspected of RAS underwent both of IFIR MR and enhanced CT angiography. Subjective image quality, renal artery depiction and renal artery grading were all evaluated on artery-by-artery basis. Spearman rank correlation analysis was used to assess agreement between the two techniques. The diagnostic sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) for RAS detection at IFIR MR angiography were calculated.


RESULTS
One hundred twenty-six main renal arteries were visualized on enhanced CT and non-enhanced MR angiographic images, respectively. The Spearman rank correlation was 0.773 (P<.001) for renal artery depiction, 0.998 (P<.001) for renal arteries grading and 0.833 (P<.001) for RAS detection between the two modalities. The sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV of IFIR MR angiography for RAS detection demonstrated 100%, 99.0%, 92.0% and 100%, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Non-enhanced IFIR MR angiography had high sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV for RAS detection. It could be the first choice of renal artery imaging methods to avoid ionizing irradiation and renal toxicity from contrast media.
Xu
Jun-ling
JL
Department of Radiology, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, Weiwu Rd, 7#, Zhengzhou 450003, China.
Shi
Da-Peng
DP
Li
Yong-Li
YL
Zhang
Ji-liang
JL
Zhu
Shao-cheng
SC
Shen
Hao
H
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003287:Contrast Media; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D007472:Iohexol; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012078:Renal Artery Obstruction / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D003287:Contrast Media; D007472:Iohexol