Contrast-enhanced MR imaging of experimental acute tubular necrosis

To demonstrate the involvement of the various renal structures in acute tubular necrosis (ATN).

In 15 rats, using a T1-/T2-weighted sequence, either gadodiamide alone, or gadodiamide in combination with sprodiamide (a susceptibility agent) were used to enhance the various anatomical substrates of the kidney. The results were compared to those of pathological verification.

Experimentally induced ATN of the rat kidney causes profound changes in the medulla, leaving the cortex largely intact. The difference between the normal cortex and the partially necrotic outer medulla, on the one hand, and the papillary region, was significantly enhanced with the combination, whereas a larger region composed of the inner and outer medulla was enhanced after the gadolinium chelate alone.

The results varied considerably between the two procedures; the double contrast demonstrated a clear difference between the inner and outer medulla, and the gadolinium chelate alone demonstrated a clear difference between the medulla and the cortex. These results demonstrated a clear difference in the compartmentalization between the inner and outer medullary regions, providing complementary information about the pathological condition of the kidney.