POTENTIAL RENAL-TRANSPLANT DONORS - EVALUATION WITH GADOLINIUM-ENHANCED MR-ANGIOGRAPHY AND MR UROGRAPHY

PURPOSE: To determine prospectively the feasibility and accuracy of co mbined gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance (MR) angiography, MR uro graphy, and MR nephrography in the presurgical evaluation of potential renal transplant donors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-two potential donors for renal transplantation were evaluated with 1.5-T MR imaging. MR angiograms were evaluated for the number of renal arteries, presen ce of early arterial branches, and renal artery stenoses. The renal co llecting system and ureters were evaluated on the MR urograms. Renal p arenchyma was assessed on the MR nephrogram. Prospective interpretatio n of MR images was compared with that of conventional angiograms and e xcretory urograms and with surgical findings. RESULTS: Gadolinium-enha nced MR angiography enabled correct identification of the arterial sup ply to all 44 native kidneys (44 single or dominant renal arteries and nine accessory renal arteries), four of five early arterial branches arising in the proximal 2 cm of the renal artery, a mild truncal steno sis in one renal artery, and two anomalies of the draining renal veins . The MR urogram accurately depicted a duplicated collecting system an d mild unilateral pelvicalicectasis. The MR nephrogram showed renal si ze and a solitary cyst in one kidney, confirmed with sonography. CONCL USION: Combined gadolinium-enhanced MR angiography, MR urography, and MR nephrography can accurately depict the arterial supply, collecting system, and renal parenchyma of donor kidneys.