COMPARISON OF HIGH-FIELD MAGNETIC-RESONANCE-IMAGING WITH COMPUTED-TOMOGRAPHY IN THE EVALUATION OF BLUNT RENAL TRAUMA

Objective: To compare magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and computed tom ography (CT) in radiographic staging of blunt renal trauma. Design: A prospective study. Materials and Methods: Fourteen patients with blunt renal trauma not requiring early surgical treatment underwent CT, and high-field (1.0 T) MR imaging. Measurements and Main Results: MR imag ing equaled CT in correctly grading the renal injury. The coronal and sagittal projections of MR imaging were helpful in determining the ext ent of the renal parenchymal lesion. Both methods were accurate in fin ding perirenal hematomas, assessing the viability of renal fragments, end detecting pre-existing renal abnormalities, but failed to visualiz e urinary extravasation on initial examination. Conclusions: Although CT remains the method of choice in radiographic staging of renal injur y, MR imaging can complement CT in patients,vith severe renal injury, pre-existing renal abnormality, equivocal CT findings, or when repeate d radiographic follow-up is required. MR imaging could replace CT in p atients with iodine allergy and be used for initial staging if CT is n ot available.