MR urography: the future gold standard in paediatric urogenital imaging?

Background. Examination of the paediatric urogenital tract is traditionally performed using methods that utilise ionising radiation, such as intraveno us urography (IVU), computerised tomography (CT), voiding cystourethrograph y (VCU), and scintigraphy, in addition to ultrasound (US). Objective. To determine the potential and effectiveness of MR urography (MR U) in infants and children. Materials and methods. 44 MRU examinations were prospectively performed in 39 patients (21 infants, mean age 3.5 months, and 18 children, mean age 6 y ears 2 months) with known or suspected pathology of the urinary tract. Non- enhanced, fast spin-echo sequence (TSE) were performed in all patients. In 70% of the patients a contrast-enhanced, fast gradient-echo sequence (TFE) was included. The dynamic sequence was prolonged and supplemented with furo semide provocation in some patients with suspected urinary-tract obstructio n. Results. Nine percent of examinations were non-diagnostic or interrupted du e to movement. MRU contributed additional information in 66%. Nine patients with suspected urinary-tract obstruction were examined with both contrast- enhanced MRU and scintigraphy. Three MRU examinations were less informative and one equal to scintigraphy when obstruction was the diagnosis. When usi ng a technique with a prolonged dynamic sequence, including frusemide provo cation, four MRU examinations were equal and one was superior to scintigrap hy. Conclusions. MRU has the potential to replace traditional diagnostic method s which use ionising radiation in paediatric patients. Further studies are needed before definite conclusions can be drawn.