Dynamic MR urography in children with uropathic disease with a combined 2D and 3D acquisition protocol--comparison with MAG3 scintigraphy.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate combined two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) dynamic MR urography with respiratory compensation in children with anomalies of the genitourinary tract, allowing for computation of split renal function and assessment of urinary tract obstruction.

METHODS: Dynamic MR urography was performed in 53 children (3 months-16 years of age) with anomalies of the urinary tract. A protocol for dynamic MR urography and nephrography was implemented at 1.5 T using a navigator-triggered 2D TurboFLASH sequence. Split renal function and contrast-medium excretion were assessed after the bolus injection of 0.05 mmol kg(-1) body weight of gadolinium dimeglumine. In the excretory phase, a 3D gradient-echo data set with high spatial resolution was acquired. In all patients, mercaptoacetyltriglycine (MAG3) scintigraphy was obtained as a reference standard.

RESULTS: In all children, dynamic MR nephrography and urography could be performed with excellent compensation of breathing artefacts providing region of interest analysis in nearly identical kidney positions. The assessment of contrast-medium excretion into the ureter allowed for discrimination of functional from non-functional stenosis. Split renal function assessed by MRI showed an excellent agreement with the MAG3 reference standard with a correlation coefficient r = 0.95. Additionally recorded 3D data sets offered good depiction of anatomical anomalies in all patients.

CONCLUSION: The proposed protocol provides a robust technique for assessment of ureteral obstruction and split renal function with compensation of breathing artefacts, short post-processing time and excellent 3D spatial resolution.

ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE: The combined protocol of 2D and 3D MR urography is an efficient technique for assessment of renal morphology and function.