3.0 Tesla magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) for comprehensive renal evaluation of living renal donors: pilot study with computerized tomography angiography (CTA) comparison

PurposeMost living related donor (LRD) kidneys are harvested laparoscopically. Renal vascular anatomy helps determine donor suitability for laparoscopic nephrectomy. Computed tomography angiography (CTA) is the current gold standard for preoperative imaging; magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) offers advantages including lack of ionizing radiation and lower incidence of contrast reactions. We evaluated 3.0 T MRA for assessing renal anatomy of LRDs.Materials and methodsThirty consecutive LRDs underwent CTA followed by 3.0 T MRA. Data points included number and branching of vessels, incidental findings, and urothelial opacification. Studies were individually evaluated by three readers blinded to patient data. Studies were reevaluated in consensus with discrepancies revealed, and final consensus results were labeled “truth”.ResultsCompared with consensus “truth”, both computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging were highly accurate for assessment of arterial and venous anatomy, although CT was superior for detection of late venous confluence as well as detection of renal stones. Both modalities were comparable in opacification of lower ureters and bladder; MRA underperformed CTA for opacification of upper urinary tracts.Conclusions3.0 T MRA enabled excellent detection of comprehensive renal anatomy compared to CTA in LRDs.