MR to assess renal function in children

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Radiology
• Medical Imaging
• Nephrology

Background:

• Renal function in children is typically assessed using scintigraphy (gamma-camera renography) to evaluate single kidney function and urinary drainage.
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) offers dynamic sequences for renal functional evaluation, tracking injected contrast agents.
• Current MRI techniques often struggle with assessing urinary tract dilatation in infants and children.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and present a novel MRI technique for quantitative renal function assessment in pediatric patients.
• To evaluate urinary excretion disturbances analogous to scintigraphy.
• To aid in the diagnostic work-up of congenital urinary tract obstruction and malformation.

Main Methods:

• Utilized fast dynamic MRI sequences after intravenous injection of a renally excreted contrast agent (e.g., Gd-DTPA, Gd-DOTA).
• Employed T1-weighted gradient-recalled echo sequences with specific parameters (short TR/TE, low flip angle).
• Developed a technique for quantitative determination of single kidney function and assessment of urinary excretion.

Main Results:

• The developed MRI technique allows for quantitative determination of single kidney function.
• It enables the evaluation of urinary excretion disturbances, comparable to scintigraphy.
• This method is suitable for diagnosing urinary tract dilatation in infants and children.

Conclusions:

• A new MRI technique provides quantitative assessment of pediatric renal function and urinary excretion.
• This approach is valuable for diagnosing congenital urinary tract obstruction and malformations.
• The technique offers an alternative or complementary tool to scintigraphy in pediatric nephrology.