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Updated: Sep 26, 2026

Point-of-Care Kidney and Genitourinary Ultrasound in Adults: Image Acquisition
Published on: June 21, 2024
MR pyelography in the assessment of hydroureteronephrosis: single-shot thick-slab RARE versus multislice HASTE
A Blandino1, F Minutoli, M Gaeta
1Department of Radiological Sciences, University of Messina, Policlinico G. Martino, Via Consolare Valeria, 98123 Messina, Italy.
Background:
We used magnetic resonance (MR) pyelography to compare the value of thick-slab single-shot rapid acquisition with relaxation enhancement (RARE) sequence with that of multislice half-Fourier acquisition single-shot turbo-spin-echo (HASTE) sequence in evaluating the full spectrum of morphologic features in a group of patients with hydronephrosis.
Methods:
MR pyelographic images, with the use of thick-slab RARE and multislice HASTE sequences in 90 patients, were evaluated for image quality, presence of hydronephrosis, and level and cause of obstruction.
Results:
HASTE sequences provided images of better quality than did RARE sequences (p < 0.001). There was no statistically significant difference in demonstrating the presence of hydronephrosis (p = 0.5) and level of obstruction (p = 0.125). Sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy in diagnosing cause of obstruction were 61.7%, 62.5%, and 62%, respectively, for RARE sequences and 80%, 82.5%, and 81%, respectively, for HASTE sequences, with a statistically significant difference (all p < 0.05).
Conclusion:
Multislice HASTE sequence provides better diagnostic information than does thick-slab RARE sequence, particularly in evaluating the cause of obstruction.
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