title: Diagnostic performance of a non-contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging protocol for potential living related kidney donors.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of the study was to evaluate the performance of a non-contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance (MR) imaging protocol for preoperative screening of living related kidney donors.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty consecutive subjects (mean age 52.2 ± 11.3 years, range 29-73 years) underwent MR imaging with T2-weighted sequences (coronal and axial plane), with a non-contrast-enhanced respiratory-gated three-dimensional steady state free precession MR angiography (NCE-MRA) sequence and with contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance MR angiography (CE-MRA) sequences in the arterial and venous phases. Two blinded readers independently assessed arterial and venous anatomy and potential kidney lesions. Results of non-contrast-enhanced images were compared to CE-MRA and in a subgroup of 21 subjects to surgery as standard of reference.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Regarding arterial anatomy, NCE-MRA yielded sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of 100%, 89%, and 91% compared to CE-MRA. Three kidneys were found to have more accessory renal arteries at NCE-MRA than at CE-MRA. In the subgroup of 21 subjects, 1 surgically proven accessory artery was depicted with NCE-MRA but not with CE-MRA. Accuracy of T2-weighted images regarding accessory veins or variant venous course was 99%, with one missed circumaortic vein on T2-weighted images. Two simple cysts were missed on T2-weighted and NCE-MRA but not on CE-MRA images.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A non-contrast-enhanced MR imaging protocol including NCE-MRA and T2-weighted images allows for the accurate screening of living related kidney donors and may serve as an alternative to CE-MRA.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Zurich, Raemistrasse 100, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland. robertpaul.goetti@usz.ch
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Goetti
authors.forename: Stephan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Baumueller
authors.forename: Hatem
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Alkadhi
authors.forename: Pierre-Alain
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Clavien
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schiesser
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Pfammatter
authors.forename: Roger
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hunziker
authors.forename: Gilbert
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Puippe
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003287:Contrast Media; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D005682:Gadolinium; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000098:blood supply*; D019520:Living Donors; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D012077:Renal Artery / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D012082:Renal Veins / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; C090600:gadobutrol; D005682:Gadolinium