title: 3.0Tesla magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) for comprehensive renal evaluation of living renal donors: pilot study with computerized tomography angiography (CTA) comparison.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Most living related donor (LRD) kidneys are harvested laparoscopically. Renal vascular anatomy helps determine donor suitability for laparoscopic nephrectomy. Computed tomography angiography (CTA) is the current gold standard for preoperative imaging; magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) offers advantages including lack of ionizing radiation and lower incidence of contrast reactions. We evaluated 3.0T MRA for assessing renal anatomy of LRDs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty consecutive LRDs underwent CTA followed by 3.0T MRA. Data points included number and branching of vessels, incidental findings, and urothelial opacification. Studies were individually evaluated by three readers blinded to patient data. Studies were reevaluated in consensus with discrepancies revealed, and final consensus results were labeled "truth".
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with consensus "truth", both computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging were highly accurate for assessment of arterial and venous anatomy, although CT was superior for detection of late venous confluence as well as detection of renal stones. Both modalities were comparable in opacification of lower ureters and bladder; MRA underperformed CTA for opacification of upper urinary tracts.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  3.0T MRA enabled excellent detection of comprehensive renal anatomy compared to CTA in LRDs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA.
authors.forename: Mittul
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gulati
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA. Electronic address: hdermend@usc.edu.
authors.forename: Harout
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Dermendjian
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University Of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA.
authors.forename: Ana M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Gómez
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University Of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA.
authors.forename: Nelly
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University Of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA.
authors.forename: Daniel J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Margolis
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University Of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA.
authors.forename: David S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University Of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA.
authors.forename: H Albin
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Gritsch
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University Of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA.
authors.forename: Steven S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Raman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000072226:Computed Tomography Angiography; D046148:Donor Selection / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000098:blood supply / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D010535:Laparoscopy; D019520:Living Donors; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009392:Nephrectomy / Q000379:methods; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016037:Single-Blind Method
keywords: CTA; Laparoscopic nephrectomy; MRA; Renal donor