Spiral CT quantification of aorto-renal calcification and its use in the detection of atheromatous renal artery stenosis: A study in 42 patients

Purpose: To investigate whether a correlation exists between aortic and ren al arterial calcifications detected with spiral CT and significant angiogra phic renal artery stenosis (RAS). Methods: Forty-two patients (mean age 67 years, range 37-84 years), of whom 24 were hypertensive, prospectively underwent abdominal helical CT and aor tic and renal arteriography. The 3-mm thickness CT scans (pitch = 1) were r econstructed each millimeter. A manual outline of the renal artery includin g its ostial portion was produced. Calcific hyperdensities were defined as areas of density more than 130 HU. CT data were compared with the presence or absence of RAS on angiography (24 cases); hypertension and age were take n into account (Mann-Whitney U-test). Results: CT detection and quantification appeared to be reliable and reprod uctible. We did not find any correlation between aortic and renal arterial calcifications and RAS, even for the patients above 65 years, with or witho ut hyper tension. There was no correlation either between calcifications an d hypertension in patients without RAS. Conclusion: In this population, aortic and renal arterial calcifications ha ve no predictive value for RAS.