title: Renal relevant radiology: renal functional magnetic resonance imaging.
abstract: Because of its noninvasive nature and provision of quantitative measures of a wide variety of physiologic parameters, functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) shows great potential for research and clinical applications. Over the past decade, application of functional MRI extended beyond detection of cerebral activity, and techniques for abdominal functional MRI evolved. Assessment of renal perfusion, glomerular filtration, interstitial diffusion, and parenchymal oxygenation turned this modality into an essential research and potentially diagnostic tool. Variations in many renal physiologic markers can be detected using functional MRI before morphologic changes become evident in anatomic magnetic resonance images. Moreover, the framework of functional MRI opened a window of opportunity to develop novel pathophysiologic markers. This article reviews applications of some well validated functional MRI techniques, including perfusion, diffusion-weighted imaging, and blood oxygen level-dependent MRI, as well as some emerging new techniques such as magnetic resonance elastography, which might evolve into clinically useful tools.
authors.affiliation: Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota.
authors.forename: Behzad
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ebrahimi
authors.forename: Stephen C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Textor
authors.forename: Lilach O
authors.initials: LO
authors.lastname: Lerman
mesh_terms: D038524:Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D054459:Elasticity Imaging Techniques; D005919:Glomerular Filtration Rate; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D055420:Perfusion Imaging; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D012079:Renal Circulation; D012720:Severity of Illness Index