title: Value of diffusion-weighted MR imaging for the detection of nephritis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate diffusion-weighted MR imaging (DWI-MRI) for the detection and assessment of infectious renal disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-one patients with suspicious increased signal intensity of the kidneys on DWI sequences and corresponding ADC decrease were identified. Sixty patients without clinical signs of renal infection served as a control group. All patients were examined with the following sequences: EPI-DWI (0/400/800 s/mm(2)), T2w HASTE, and T1w VIBE after intravenous injection of Gd-chelate. Confirmation of renal infection was established on the basis of clinical criteria. T1w and T2w images were assessed and compared to DWI for the presence of altered signal, and the degree of the visibility of pathology was graded on an ordinal three-point scale.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In all 21 patients with positive DWI findings a renal infection could be confirmed. T2w imaging and contrast-enhanced T1w imaging displayed obvious pathologic signal in 3/21 (14%) and 11/19 (58%) patients and slightly pathologic signal in 17/21 (81%) and 7/19 (37%), respectively. The median visibility score of 2 for the DWI and the T1w images was significantly higher than the score of 1 for the T2w imaging, P = 0.0001 (DWI versus T2w) and P = 0.078 (T1w versus T2w).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  DWI of the kidneys seems to be highly sensitive for the detection of infections within the kidney.
authors: Institute of Clinical Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, University Medical Center Mannheim, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Theodor-Kutzer-Ufer 1-3, 68167 Mannheim, Germany ; Department of Radiology, Innsbruck Medical University, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria.
authors: Benjamin
authors: B
authors: Henninger
authors: Miriam
authors: M
authors: Reichert
authors: Stefan
authors: S
authors: Haneder
authors: Stefan O
authors: SO
authors: Schoenberg
authors: Henrik J
authors: HJ
authors: Michaely
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D003287:Contrast Media; D038524:Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D017352:Echo-Planar Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005682:Gadolinium; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009393:Nephritis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D005682:Gadolinium