Contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography: evaluation of renal arteries in living renal transplant donors

Firat A., Akin O., Agildere A., Aytekin C., Haberal M.

EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF RADIOLOGY, vol.52, no.1, pp.84-93, 2004 (Peer-Reviewed Journal) identifier identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Review
  • Volume: 52 Issue: 1
  • Publication Date: 2004
  • Doi Number: 10.1016/j.ejrad.2003.08.002
  • Journal Name: EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF RADIOLOGY
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded, Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.84-93
  • Keywords: kidney transplantation, MR angiography, magnetic resonance (MR), vascular studies, renal arteries, POTENTIAL KIDNEY DONORS, 3-DIMENSIONAL MR-ANGIOGRAPHY, BREATH-HOLD, PREOPERATIVE EVALUATION, CT ANGIOGRAPHY, ABDOMINAL-AORTA, STENOSIS, TIME, UROGRAPHY, PITFALLS

Abstract

One of the most important steps before living-donor nephrectomy is assessment of renal vascular anatomy. The number, origins and lengths of the renal arteries and variations of renal veins must be determined in order to identify the kidney that is most suitable for transplantation. Digital subtraction angiography was long considered the standard procedure for this purpose, but this method has been replaced by non-invasive techniques. Contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography is an accurate, safe and reliable method for imaging vasculature. This article reviews the technique and the clinical features of this method in the evaluation of living renal transplant donors. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.