CT volumetric measurements correlate with split renal function in renal trauma

Area of Science:

• Radiology
• Nephrology
• Trauma Surgery

Background:

• Renal trauma can lead to segmental vascular injuries (SVIs), impacting kidney function.
• Assessing split renal function is crucial for managing renal trauma.
• Nuclear medicine (NM) scans are a standard but resource-intensive method for evaluating split renal function.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine if computed tomography (CT) volumetric measurements of SVIs correlate with future NM split renal function.
• To establish a non-invasive imaging biomarker for renal function post-trauma.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of renal trauma patients with unilateral SVIs and follow-up NM scans.
• Calculation of CT-based split renal function using kidney volume ratios.
• Independent volumetric analysis by two radiologists to assess inter-rater reliability.

Main Results:

• CT-derived split renal function (44%) showed strong correlation (R=0.89) with NM-derived split renal function (43%).
• High inter-rater reliability (ICC=0.94) was observed for CT volumetric measurements.
• CT imaging accurately estimated injured kidney function (mean 23% injury).

Conclusions:

• CT volumetric measurements of SVIs provide a reliable, non-invasive method to predict future split renal function.
• This CT-based approach reduces the need for additional NM scans, saving costs and radiation exposure.
• Further research is needed to validate this method for more complex renal injuries.