Gadolinium-enhanced MR Angiography in Living Donor Renal Transplantation

Kim, Hyung Tae

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Donor safety is critical issue in living donor renal transplantation (LDRT). Conventional angiography, gold standard for evaluation of renal vasculature, is invasive and painful and can result serious complications; catheter related or contrast agent related complications. Magnetic resonance angiography has much less complications, related with the procedure.
OBJECTIVE
To test feasibility of MR angiography as preoperative work up in LDRT. MATERIALS AND METHOD: Conventional renal angiogram and gadolinium-enhanced MR angiogram (Gd-MRA) was obtained from 20 kidneys of 10 donors. Each images were interpreted by 2 radiologist, separately. Operative findings of 10 grafts were compared with those images.
RESULTS
There were 22 main renal arteries, 4 accessory renal arteries and 2 early bifurcation on both Gd-MRA and conventional angiogram. But both images missed one main branch, which was hidden by ventrally located larger branch and was identified on operative finding. There was no test related complication on both studies, except one hematoma formation after conventional angiography.
CONCLUSION
MR angiography is as accurate as conventional angiography in preoperative work up for LDRT and associated with no test related complications.