Related Experiment Videos
[Experimental flow and perfusion measurements in the animal model with magnetic resonance tomography]
S O Schoenberg1, M Bock, A Just
1Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum Heidelberg, Forschungsschwerpunkt Radiologische Diagnostik und Therapie, Heidelberg. S.Schoenberg@dkfz.de
Aim:
Validation of non-invasive methods for morphologic and functional imaging of the kidney under physiologic and pathophysiologic conditions.
Material And Methods:
In chronically instrumented animals (foxhounds) comparative measurements of renal flow and perfusion were performed. Magnetic resonance imaging techniques were compared to data obtained from implanted flow probes and total kidney weight post mortem. In the MR system, different degrees of renal artery stenosis could be induced by means of an implanted inflatable cuff. The degree of stenosis was verified with high-resolution 3D contrast-enhanced MR angiography (3D-CE-MRA) using an intravascular contrast agent.
Results:
The MR-data agreed well with the invasively obtained results. Artifacts resulting from the implanted flow probes and other devices could be kept to a minimum due to appropriate selection of the probe materials and measurement strategies. Stenoses could be reproduced reliably and quantified from the induced morphologic and functional changes.
Conclusion:
Morphologic and functional MR techniques are well suited for non-invasive in vivo assessment of renal blood flow physiology.