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Measurement of renal cortical thickness using noncontrast‐enhanced steady‐state free precession MRI with spatially selective inversion recovery pulse: Association with renal function
Author(s) -
Noda Yasufumi,
Ito Katsuyoshi,
Kanki Akihiko,
Tamada Tsutomu,
Yamamoto Akira,
Kazuya Yasokawa,
Higaki Atsushi
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
journal of magnetic resonance imaging
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.563
H-Index - 160
eISSN - 1522-2586
pISSN - 1053-1807
DOI - 10.1002/jmri.24719
Subject(s) - steady state free precession imaging , medicine , magnetic resonance imaging , renal function , kidney , pulse (music) , nuclear medicine , urology , radiology , physics , detector , optics
Purpose To assess whether noncontrast‐enhanced steady‐state free precession (SSFP) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with a spatially selective inversion recovery (IR) pulse can improve the visibility of renal corticomedullary differentiation in patients showing renal dysfunction, and to investigate the correlation between renal cortical thickness and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). Materials and Methods Sixty‐five patients with and without chronic kidney diseases (CKD) were investigated. Based on eGFR, patients were divided into three groups (Group 1, eGFR < 60; Group 2, eGFR = 60–90; and Group 3, eGFR > 90). All patients underwent noncontrast‐enhanced SSFP MRI with spatially selective IR pulses and minimal renal cortical thickness was measured. Results The mean corticomedullary contrast ratio was significantly higher in SSFP images with optimal TI than in in‐phase images in all three groups ( P = 0.001). Positive correlation was seen between the corticomedullary contrast ratio in SSFP images with optimal TI and eGFR ( P = 0.011, r = 0.314). A significantly positive correlation was observed between minimal renal cortical thickness and eGFR ( P < 0.01, r = 0.495). Conclusion Noncontrast‐enhanced SSFP MRI with a spatially selective IR pulse using optimal TI can improve the visibility of renal corticomedullary differentiation even in patients with renal insufficiency. The decrease in renal cortical thickness measured using this technique correlated significantly with eGFR. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2015;41:1615–1621 . © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc .