title: Assessing renal parenchymal volume on unenhanced CT as a marker for predicting renal function in patients with chronic kidney disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To estimate renal volume in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients using a semiautomated software and compare them with split renal function estimates from radionuclide renogram (RR). We proposed that renal volume from unenhanced computed tomography (CT) scans may serve as surrogate marker for assessing renal function in CKD patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Unenhanced multidetector CT scans of 26 patients with CKD (estimated glomerular filtration rate [eGFR] <60 mL/kg/body surface area [BSA]) and 10 controls (eGFR >60 mL/kg/BSA) were analyzed to calculate renal volumes using a semiautomated software (AMIRAV5.2.0). Volumes obtained were then correlated with corresponding eGFR and split renal function estimates from RR. Volumes were also compared with those obtained on enhanced scans in 10 cases (five disease group, five controls). Bland-Altman analysis was used to assess agreement between methods.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A moderately positive correlation was found between renal volume obtained on unenhanced CT and eGFR (r = 0.65, P < .0001), whereas a significantly high correlation with split function estimates from RR (r = 0.95, P < .001) was found. Bland-Altman analysis revealed a good agreement between renal volume from CT and renal function from RR (34/36 observations were within 95% CI and there were two outliers). Correlation between volumes obtained from unenhanced and enhanced CT scans was also significant (r = 0.96).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In patients with CKD, renal volume derived from unenhanced CT can possibly serve as a surrogate marker for assessing and monitoring renal function reserves to plan further management.
authors.affiliation: Department of Abdominal and Interventional Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, 55 Fruit Street, White 270, Boston, MA 02114, USA. riya10.in@gmail.com
authors.forename: Supriya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.forename: Anand H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: Amna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shabbir
authors.forename: Peter F
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Hahn
authors.forename: Gordon
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.forename: Dushyant
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sahani
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000465:Algorithms; D003287:Contrast Media; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D007668:Kidney / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D007677:Kidney Function Tests / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size; D011857:Radiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media