Faculty Bibliography

Established as a method to study anatomic changes, such as renal tumors or atherosclerotic vascular disease, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to interrogate renal function has only recently begun to come of age. In this review, we briefly introduce some of the most important MRI techniques for renal functional imaging, and then review current findings on their use for diagnosis and monitoring of major kidney diseases. Specific applications include renovascular disease, diabetic nephropathy, renal transplants, renal masses, acute kidney injury, and pediatric anomalies. With this review, we hope to encourage more collaboration between nephrologists and radiologists to accelerate the development and application of modern MRI tools in nephrology clinics.

OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this study was to evaluate split renal function, estimate single-kidney renal function, and identify cause of obstruction in patients with ureteropelvic junction (UPJ) obstruction by using contrast-enhanced dynamic MR renography (MRR). MATERIALS AND METHODS. Seventeen patients with UPJ obstruction underwent MRR and diuresis nuclear renography. Nuclear renography assessment of split renal function and mechanical versus functional obstruction served as the reference standard. The Baumann-Rudin model for determining glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was applied to generate single-kidney renal function (SK-GFRMRR) from MRR cortical and medullary enhancement curves. MRR split renal function of the right kidney (SK-GFRMRR of the right kidney normalized to the sum of SK-GFRMRR of both kidneys) was compared with nuclear renography. The MRR estimate of total GFR (eGFRMRR) was compared with that derived from Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) formula (eGFRMDRD). Renal pelvic rate of signal intensity change (PUR) was compared between functionally and mechanically obstructed kidneys. RESULTS. There was excellent correlation between MRR and nuclear renography measure of split renal function ratio (r = 0.87, p < 0.01), with mean difference of less than 10%. There was moderate correlation (r = 0.60, p = 0.01) between eGFRMRR and eGFRMDRD. eGFRMRR underestimated eGFRMDRD, with mean difference of 13.3 mL/min/1.73 m(2). PUR in mechanically obstructed units was significantly lower (0.39 +/- 0.26 vs 2.0 +/- 1.38 min(-1); p < 0.01) compared with functionally obstructed units. PUR discriminated mechanical from functional obstruction with accuracy of 89%. CONCLUSION. In patients with UPJ obstruction, MRR can measure split renal function, estimate eGFRMDRD with moderate correlation, and accurately discriminate mechanical from functional obstruction, thus potentially providing a "one-stop shop" examination.

Simultaneous positron emission tomography (PET)/magnetic resonance (MR) imaging is a promising novel technology for oncology diagnosis and staging and neurologic and cardiac applications. Our institution's current research protocol results in a total imaging time of approximately 45 to 70 minutes with simultaneous PET/MR imaging, making this a feasible total body imaging protocol. Further development of MR-based attenuation correction will improve PET quantification. Quantitatively accurate multiparametric PET/MR data sets will likely improve diagnosis of disease and help guide and monitor the therapies for individualized patient care.

Gadoxetic acid-enhanced magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) was performed for evaluation of living donor liver transplantation. T2-weighted MRCP and hepatobiliary-phase postcontrast MRCP showed an aberrant right posterior bile duct, although the precise variant was uncertain. Optimized hepatobiliary-phase MRCP was obtained using 3 sequence modifications: increased flip angle to improve contrast between the biliary tree and surrounding tissues; radial k-space sampling to minimize motion artifact; and free-breathing acquisition to improve signal-to-noise ratio and, in turn, spatial resolution (resolution of 1.28 x 1.28 x 1.5 mm). The optimized sequence demonstrated that the right posterior bile duct drained into the cystic duct, consistent with type 3C biliary variant, thus modifying surgical planning.