Renal MR angiography at 1.0 T: three-dimensional (3D) phase-contrast techniques versus gadolinium-enhanced 3D fast...

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic usefulness of three different MR angiographic techniques at 1.0 T.

In 22 patients with renal artery stenosis confirmed at intraarterial catheter angiography, we also performed unenhanced and gadolinium-enhanced three-dimensional phase-contrast MR angiography and gadolinium-enhanced single breath-hold three-dimensional fast low-angle shot MR angiography. We determined circulation time to optimize signal acquisition in gadolinium-enhanced breath-hold MR angiography after bolus injection of contrast material.

Sensitivity, defined as the detection of a hemodynamically significant stenosis (>50% luminal narrowing), was 85% for enhanced phase-contrast MR angiography, 91% for gadolinium-enhanced MR angiography, and 95% for unenhanced phase-contrast MR angiography. The combination of unenhanced phase-contrast MR angiography and gadolinium-enhanced MR angiography yielded 100% sensitivity for hilar artery stenoses. There were 13 false-positive findings with unenhanced phase-contrast MR angiography, 10 with enhanced phase-contrast MR angiography, and four with gadolinium-enhanced MR angiography (specificity: 38%, 52%, and 79%, respectively). Accessory renal arteries were not seen on unenhanced or enhanced phase-contrast MR angiography (0/8 patients) but were detected with gadolinium-enhanced MR angiography in five of the eight patients. Interobserver agreement (kappa = .62) was best with gadolinium-enhanced MR angiography. The quality of the images was unsatisfactory for adequate evaluation of segmental renal arteries with all three MR angiographic techniques.

A combination of unenhanced phase-contrast MR angiography and gadolinium-enhanced MR angiography at 1.0 T proved useful as a screening protocol for renal artery stenosis.