DETECTION OF RENAL ISCHEMIC LESIONS USING GD-DTPA ENHANCED TURBO FLASH MRI - EXPERIMENTAL AND CLINICAL-RESULTS

Purpose: Our goal was to investigate the role of Gd-DTPA-enhanced dyna mic MRI in the evaluation of renal ischemic lesions. Method: With a tu rbo FLASH sequence before and after injection of Gd-DTPA, nine foxhoun d dogs after 60-120 min of renal ischemia underwent MR examination. In addition, five patients with a tumor in a solitary kidney were examin ed before and after nephron-sparing renal surgery to evaluate renal pe rfusion and function. The experimental and clinical findings were corr elated with conventional measurements of kidney function and with hist ological findings. Results: Complete renal ischemia leads to a poor co rticomedullary differentiation in Gd-DTPA-enhanced turbo FLASH MRI. Th e signal-intensity-versus-time plots of kidneys with significant posti schemic changes show a less steep increase of signal intensity in the cortex and a steeper increase of signal intensity in the medulla than those of normal kidneys. Conclusion: Dynamic MRI demonstrate renal mor phology and reflect the functional status of the renal vasculature.