[Spiral computed tomography of the renal arteries]

With the recent advent of spiral or helical CT, the ability to acquire large volume of imaging has become possible. Fast scanning of both kidneys, the aorta and the renal vessels can be accomplished during one breathhold. Early reports of CT angiography in the evaluation of renal artery stenosis indicated a sensitivity of 92% utilizing the MIP projection method and 59% utilizing the shaded surface display method. Specificity for both method was approximately 82%. More recent articles reports for hemodynamically relevant renal artery stenosis a sensitivity/sensibility of 96/99%. The introduction of a new multidetector CT technology will probably increase those results and the indication of CT angiography.