RENAL BLOOD-FLOW - MEASUREMENT IN-VIVO WITH RAPID SPIRAL MR-IMAGING

PURPOSE: To assess the ability of three cine phase-contrast magnetic r esonance (MR) imaging techniques to measure normal human renal blood f low (RBF) in vivo. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eighteen healthy volunteers were studies with three cine phase-contrast MR imaging techniques: bre ath-hold, segmented k-space, automatic data segmentation, or TRIADS); a breath-hold rapid spiral acquistion; and a non-breath-hold rapid spi ral acquisition that allowed resolution of both cardiac and respirator y cycles. In each case, total arterial RBF and blood flow per unit of renal volume were calculated. For each subject, RBF was measured with a standard technique of p-aminohippuric acid (PAH)-clearance hematocri t on the same day as the MR imaging examination was performed. RESULTS : The range of agreement (2 standard deviations, or 95% confidence int erval) between RBF measurements obtained with the PAH-clearance hemato crit technique and the various cine phase-contrast techniques varied f rom +/-17.6% to +/-26.5%. The best agreement was obtained with non-bre ath-hold rapid spiral data, by using data from the end-expiratory phas e of respiration. CONCLUSION: Findings with cine phase-contrast MR ima ging employing rapid spiral acquisition are in good agreement with mea surements made with PAH-clearance hematocrit and give the promise of c linical measurement of RBF.