Renal vasculature in potential renal transplant donors: comparison of MR imaging and digital subtraction angiography.

Purpose: To compare magnetic resonance (MR) angiography with a selective inversion-recovery sequence and digital subtraction angiography (DSA) in renal transplant donors.

Materials And Methods: Thirteen potential donors underwent MR imaging at 1.5 T and conventional angiography. Blinded evaluation of imaging findings was performed. A selective inversion-recovery sequence was used to obtain MR arteriograms.

Results: Eight accessory vessels were present; MR angiography showed 100% sensitivity in accessory vessel detection. Both studies depicted early arterial branching in two vessels, mild fibromuscular dysplasia in one patient, normal renal size in all patients, and prominent fetal lobulation in two kidneys. A small cyst was detected with MR imaging only. Minor venous anomalies were noted in three patients, though these were not surgically confirmed owing to contralateral surgery.

Conclusion: Despite the small study population, MR angiography with this sequence appears to have potential value in pretransplantation evaluation of the kidney. Advantages include short examination time, noninvasiveness, avoidance of iodinated contrast media, no radiation, and lower cost than DSA.