title: [Renal failure: diagnostic work-up].
abstract: The purpose of this article is to review the diagnostic work-up of renal failure, acute or chronic. The role of the radiologist is to exclude the presence of a curable etiology such as urinary tract obstruction or vascular thrombosis. Renal ultrasound with Doppler imaging is the imaging modality of choice for this indication, and the use of a contrast agent is useful to evaluate renal perfusion. Non-contrast CT remains valuable for the diagnosis of some urinary tract pathologies. Finally, MRI is the most comprehensive imaging modality for the evaluation of the urinary tract, but performed as a second line modality mainly for practical reasons but also due to the non-negligible risk of nephrogenic systemic fibrosis secondary to the intravenous administration of gadolinium based contrast agent.
authors.affiliation: Service d'Imagerie, Université Paris Sud, CHU Bicêtre AP-HP, 78 Avenue du Gal-Leclerc, 95275 Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France. jonathan.ifergan@bct.aphp.fr
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ifergan
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rocher
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Hélénon
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Oueslati
authors.forename: M-F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Bellin
mesh_terms: D058186:Acute Kidney Injury / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D000328:Adult; D001002:Anuria / Q000209:etiology; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004621:Embolization, Therapeutic; D005260:Female; D005682:Gadolinium / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D007673:Kidney Cortex Necrosis / Q000175:diagnosis; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D054989:Nephrogenic Fibrosing Dermopathy / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control; D006473:Postpartum Hemorrhage / Q000628:therapy; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler; D014570:Urologic Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D055988:Uterine Artery
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D005682:Gadolinium