title: Measurement of renal cortical thickness using noncontrast-enhanced steady-state free precession MRI with spatially selective inversion recovery pulse: Association with renal function.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess whether noncontrast-enhanced steady-state free precession (SSFP) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with a spatially selective inversion recovery (IR) pulse can improve the visibility of renal corticomedullary differentiation in patients showing renal dysfunction, and to investigate the correlation between renal cortical thickness and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR).
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-five patients with and without chronic kidney diseases (CKD) were investigated. Based on eGFR, patients were divided into three groups (Group 1, eGFR < 60; Group 2, eGFR = 60-90; and Group 3, eGFR > 90). All patients underwent noncontrast-enhanced SSFP MRI with spatially selective IR pulses and minimal renal cortical thickness was measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean corticomedullary contrast ratio was significantly higher in SSFP images with optimal TI than in in-phase images in all three groups (P = 0.001). Positive correlation was seen between the corticomedullary contrast ratio in SSFP images with optimal TI and eGFR (P = 0.011, r = 0.314). A significantly positive correlation was observed between minimal renal cortical thickness and eGFR (P < 0.01, r = 0.495).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Noncontrast-enhanced SSFP MRI with a spatially selective IR pulse using optimal TI can improve the visibility of renal corticomedullary differentiation even in patients with renal insufficiency. The decrease in renal cortical thickness measured using this technique correlated significantly with eGFR.
authors: Department of Radiology, Kawasaki Medical School, Kurashiki, Okayama, Japan.
authors: Yasufumi
authors: Y
authors: Noda
authors: Department of Radiology, Kawasaki Medical School, Kurashiki, Okayama, Japan.
authors: Katsuyoshi
authors: K
authors: Ito
authors: Department of Radiology, Kawasaki Medical School, Kurashiki, Okayama, Japan.
authors: Akihiko
authors: A
authors: Kanki
authors: Department of Radiology, Kawasaki Medical School, Kurashiki, Okayama, Japan.
authors: Tsutomu
authors: T
authors: Tamada
authors: Department of Radiology, Kawasaki Medical School, Kurashiki, Okayama, Japan.
authors: Akira
authors: A
authors: Yamamoto
authors: Department of Radiology, Kawasaki Medical School, Kurashiki, Okayama, Japan.
authors: Yasokawa
authors: Y
authors: Kazuya
authors: Department of Radiology, Kawasaki Medical School, Kurashiki, Okayama, Japan.
authors: Atsushi
authors: A
authors: Higaki
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005919:Glomerular Filtration Rate; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D007672:Kidney Cortex / Q000473:pathology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies
keywords: cortical thickness; corticomedullary differentiation; kidney; magnetic resonance imaging; steady-state free precession (SSFP)