MR peritoneography in complications of continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis

We evaluated the usefulness of magnetic resonance (MR) peritoneography for the examination of complications from continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD).

MR peritoneography was performed in 20 patients who had suspected CAPD-related complications. Patients who had active peritonitis were not included in the study. Before MR imaging, a mixture of 2000 mL of peritoneal dialysis solution and 20 mL of gadopentetate dimeglumine was instilled into the peritoneal cavity. MR imaging was performed on a 1.0-Tesla system using a body coil. Axial, coronal, and sagittal fat-saturated fast spoiled gradient echo (repetition/echo times, 100/6.3 ms; flip angle, 90 degrees), axial fat-saturated T2-weighted fast spin echo (repetition/echo times, 6000/107 ms), and coronal fat-saturated T2-weighted fast spin echo (repetition/echo times, 3000/96.2 ms) images of the abdomen and the pelvis were obtained. After drain-age, triplanar fat-saturated fast spoiled gradient echo images were repeated with the same parameters.

Homogeneous distribution of the dialysate in the peritoneal cavity was detected in 18 patients (90%). In 12 patients (60%), fluid leaks were discovered peripheral to the exit site, tunnel, and site of peritoneal entrance of the catheter. Fluid leaks through the abdominal wall in five patients (25%), retroperitoneum in one patient (5%), and a previous operation site in one patient (5%) were demonstrated. No abnormal finding was detected in three patients (15%) who had clinically suspected complications, whereas a dialysate leak was found in two patients (10%) who had no significant finding at physical examination.

MR peritoneography provides detailed information about the anatomic distribution of dialysate leaks in patients treated with CAPD and poses no risks associated with ionizing radiation and nephrotoxic contrast medium.