In vitro measurement of kidney size: comparison of ultrasonography and MRI

In this in vitro study, the accuracy and repeatability of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and ultrasound (US) in assessing renal length and volume were determined. US and MR images of 20 cadaver pig kidneys were obtained twice and evaluated by two observers for each modality. The fluid displacement method provided the "gold standard." Renal volumes were calculated from the US and MR images using the ellipsoid formula. Additional volume calculations after segmentation of the kidney on MR images were done using the voxel-count method. Volumes calculated with the ellipsoid formula resulted in an average of 24% underestimation (range 5%-48%) of the renal volume for both US and MRI. With the voxel-count method, no significant deviation from the true renal volume was encountered. Repeatability was also greatest with the voxel-count method. Measuring renal length, repeatability was, again, better with MRI compared to US. For reliable calculation of renal size in vitro, MRI with use of the voxel-count method is preferred.