DETECTION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF RENAL MASSES WITH GRADIENT-ECHO SEQUENCES IN GD-DTPA-ENHANCED MAGNETIC-RESONANCE-IMAGING

In modern magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) gradient echo (GE) sequence s have been shown to be superior to conventional spin echo (SE) sequen ces in characterizing renal masses and staging renal tumours. In this study MRI was carried out in patients with renal masses (n = 97, histo logically proven n = 43) using a fast GE-sequence (multislice techniqu e, TR/TE 80/5 ms) and an i. v. bolus application of gadolinium (Gd)-DT PA mostly in axial, in selected cases additionally in coronal slice or ientation. MRI findings were compared with those of contrast-enhanced CT (n = 56). The results demonstrated that MRI under Gd-DTPA has a rel iably good image quality and can characterise renal masses safely. Com pared with CT in multislice MRI problems of partial volume effects can be reduced; complex renal cysts can be differentiated more safely fro m solid tumours with unclear CT findings due to a significantly higher contrast enhancement in MRI.