title: Diffusion weighted magnetic resonance imaging of kidneys in children with vesicoureteral reflux.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) which obtain from diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DWI), is a quantitative parameter representing the renal function and parenchymal damage in some renal disorders. The primary aim of this study was to investigate whether renal tissue alterations associated with vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) can be displayed by DWI. The secondary aim was to assess how ADC values change with age in kidneys with and without VUR.
  
  
  METHODS
  This prospective study included 46 patients (8 boys, 38 girls; mean age 7.3 ± 4.2; range 1-15 years) with VUR and 54 control subjects (21 boys, 33 girls; mean age 7.7 ± 5.2; range 1-17 years). All subjects underwent DWI of the kidneys using b value of 600s/mm(2) in addition to MR urography. The ADC values of 71 kidneys with VUR were compared with those of 81 kidneys without VUR.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean ADC values were (1.93 ± 0.36)×10(-3)mm(2)/s, (1.97 ± 0.24)× 10(-3)mm(2)/s, (1.83 ± 0.37)× 10(-3)mm(2)/s, (1.98 ± 0.20)×10(-3)mm(2)/s and (2.08 ± 0.42)× 10(-3)mm(2)/s in normal kidneys, and in those with grade 1, grade 2, grade 3 and grade 4 VUR, respectively. There was no significant difference in ADC values between kidneys with and without VUR. There was a significant positive correlation between the age and ADC values both in kidneys with and without VUR (r=0.79, p<0.001 and r=0.82; p<0.001, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  DWI does not reveal probable parenchymal alterations in reflux nephropathy. ADC values increase with age during childhood not only in normal kidneys but also in kidneys with VUR.
authors.affiliation: Pamukkale University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiology, Denizli, Turkey. Electronic address: alkoc@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Koçyiğit
authors.affiliation: Pamukkale University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiology, Denizli, Turkey.
authors.forename: Recep
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bayram
authors.affiliation: Pamukkale University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pediatric Nephrology, Denizli, Turkey.
authors.forename: Selçuk
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yüksel
authors.affiliation: Pamukkale University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiology, Denizli, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ismail
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Yılmaz
authors.affiliation: Pamukkale University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiology, Denizli, Turkey.
authors.forename: Nevzat
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Karabulut
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000375:Aging / Q000473:pathology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D038524:Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D007223:Infant; D007668:Kidney / Q000473:pathology*; D007677:Kidney Function Tests / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014718:Vesico-Ureteral Reflux / Q000473:pathology*
keywords: Diffusion weighted imaging; Kidney; Magnetic resonance imaging; Nephropathy; Vesicoureteral reflux