title: 3-D Spiral Computerised Tomographic Angiography in Evaluation of Potential Renal Donors.
abstract: A total of 30 potential renal donors aged between 35 and 50 years were subjected to pre-operative 3-Dimensional Spiral Computerised Tomography (CT) angiography with the aim to assess its efficacy in the evaluation of renal vasculature. The investigations were carried out on a Philips Tomoscan AV Spiral CT scanner. Scan parameters included a collimation of 3 mm and table speed of 4 mm/sec. A total of 120 ml of non-ionic contrast was injected at a rate of 4 ml per second using a power injector. The axial images obtained were reconstructed at 2mm intervals and 3-D reconstruction was done using Surface Shaded Display (SSD) and Maximum Intensity Projection (MIP) protocols. CT angiography and its correlation with per-operative findings revealed 97 to 100% sensitivity and specificity in identifying the main and accessory renal arteries and veins. The angiogram also excluded the presence of pathologies like polycystic kidney, horse shoe kidney with a thick isthmus and occult renal cell carcinoma that would prevent the patient from being a donor. 3-D spiral CT angiography allows the radiologist to provide the transplant surgeon with precise pre-operative anatomy of the renal vasculature thus reducing the risks and complications associated with the harvesting procedure and increasing the chances of a successful outcome. Thus it is a fast, accurate, inexpensive and minimally invasive procedure that is becoming the modality of choice for the pre-operative evaluation of potential renal transplant donors.
authors.affiliation: Classified Specialist (Radiodiagnosis & Imaging), Command Hospital (Air Force), Bangalore - 560 007.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alam
authors.affiliation: Senior Advisor (Radiodiagnosis & Imaging), Command Hospital (Air Force), Bangalore - 560 007.
authors.forename: B N
authors.initials: BN
authors.lastname: Chander
authors.affiliation: Senior Advisor (Surgery & Urology), Command Hospital (Air Force), Bangalore - 560 007.
authors.forename: D P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Joshi
keywords: Renal artery; Renal transplant; Spiral CT angiography