MAGNETIC-RESONANCE-IMAGING OF RENAL OSTEODYSTROPHY IN CHILDREN

Background. Improved life expectancy of children with chronic renal fa ilure (CRF) has increased the number of patients with renal osteodystr ophy and has brought to light novel and severe forms of the disease. T hese factors have contributed to the need to evaluate new, noninvasive imaging modalities for the detection of bone involvement. Objectives. To evaluate the potential of MRI in the detection of the bone changes of renal osteodystrophy as compared to conventional X-rays. Materials and methods. Fourteen children with CRF were examined with a 0.5-T MR unit using TI-weighted and STIR sequences and conventional radiograph s. The following features were reviewed in a nonblinded study: skeleta l deformities, thickening of cortical bone, trabecular pattern, intrao sseous soft tissue masses, osteonecrosis, extraskeletal calcifications and bone marrow signal changes. Results. MRI adequately demonstrated skeletal deformities, cortical thickening and irregular trabecular pat tern. It showed osteonecrosis and intraosseous soft-tissue masses more conspicuously than X-ray In addition, it revealed diffuse nonspecific signal changes in the bone marrow. Conclusion. MRI is a potentially u seful tool for evaluating the bone changes of renal osteodystrophy.