Concentric-object and equiangular-object methods to perform standardized regional analysis in renal mpMRI

Renal multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) sequences, including T₁-T₂ mapping, Blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD), Renal blood flow (RBF), and Apparent Diffusion Coefficient (ADC) from diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI), provide insights into kidney function. However, consensus on selecting regions of interest (ROIs) is lacking. This study aims to describe and compare the Concentric Objects (CO) and Equiangular Objects (EO) methods for standardized ROI selection and assess their efficacy in capturing regional variations in renal MRI parameters.

Twelve healthy volunteers underwent mpMRI renal scans. ROIs were selected manually and by applying the CO and EO algorithms to each mpMRI sequence. The methods were tested across various subregion configurations. Regional differences in renal MRI parameters were evaluated.

CO and EO methods demonstrated statistically significant differences in mpMRI parameters across renal regions. ASL-RBF, BOLD-MRI, and T₂-map results indicated substantial variations from the lower to upper kidney areas.

This study implemented CO and EO algorithms in renal mpMRI, showing their potential for evaluating cortico-medullary and cranio-caudal profiles. The findings validate the CO method for BOLD and ADC measurements and presented ASL-RBF and T₁-T₂ map profiles. The EO method's utility needs further validation with renal patients.