Renal artery stenosis: value of screening with three-dimensional phase-contrast MR angiography with a phased-array...

To evaluate screening with three-dimensional (3D) phase-contrast magnetic resonance (MR) angiography with a phased-array multicoil to detect renal artery stenosis.

Fifty consecutive patients suspected of having renovascular disease were prospectively examined with 3D phase-contrast MR imaging with a phased-array multicoil. Findings were correlated with those at intra-arterial digital subtraction angiography (DSA) as the standard of reference for grade of stenosis.

MR angiography depicted 101 of 103 renal arteries depicted at intraarterial DSA; the two missed arteries were an accessory artery outside the imaging volume and an artery with a stent. At intraarterial DSA, a stenosis was found in 31 of 101 arteries. On the basis of findings at 3D phase-contrast MR angiography, the presence of any degree of stenosis was correctly depicted in 29 of 31 cases and the absence of stenosis was correctly depicted in 66 of 70 cases (accuracy, 94%; sensitivity, 94%; negative predictive value, 97%). Overall accuracy was 97% for correct depiction of severe renal artery stenosis (> 50%).

3D phase-contrast MR angiography with a phased-array multicoil was an accurate noninvasive screening technique in patients with suspected renal artery stenosis.