S. Kajander et al., Imaging end-stage kidney disease in adults - Low-field MR imaging with magnetization transfer vs. ultrasonography, ACT RADIOL, 41(4), 2000, pp. 357-360
Purpose: To 1) assess the potential of magnetization transfer (MT)-weighted
MR imaging to improve the often poor visibility of native kidneys in patie
nts with a renal transplant; and 2) compare low-held MR imaging and ultraso
nography (US) for imaging these fibrotic kidney remnants.
Material and Methods: Seventy-two native kidneys of 36 patients were prospe
ctively evaluated with US and MR. In low-field (0.1 T) MR imaging, T1-, T2-
and MT-weighted sequences were used. MT-weighted images were compared with
T2-weighted images in their ability to delineate the kidneys from their su
rroundings whereas US and MR were compared for detection of renal cysts and
possible solid tumors.
Results. MT-weighted images proved superior to conventional T2-weighted ima
ges in producing contrast between the kidney remnants and their fatty surro
undings, Although US revealed a few small renal cysts that were not seen at
MR images, no statistical difference was found between the two modalities
in this respect.
Conclusion: MT imaging, due to its unique protein-specific signal depressio
n, offers significantly improved Visualization and delineation of end-stage
kidneys. US, because its better availability and cost-benefit ratio, remai
ns the method-of-choice compared to low-field MR imaging in detecting cysts
in multicystic kidneys. MR investigation is helpful in selected patients a
nd may be used as an alternative.