EVALUATION OF 2D- AND 3D-TIME-OF-FLIGHT-MRA IN RENAL-ARTERY STENOSIS

This study was carried out to evaluate time-of-flight-MRA in renal artery stenosis [RAS] in selected hypertensive patients [n=41]. In i.a. DSA studies, 10 unilateral, 8 bilateral RAS, and 4 unilateral RA-occlusions were proven. MRA was done in coronal and axial 2D-technique [FLASH], and in 3D-technique [FISP] using GE-pulse sequences. DSA results were correlated with both 2D-individual slices, 2D- and 3D-MIP-angiograms. Highest sensitivity and specificity was found for the axial 2D-individual slice analysis [88%, 85% resp.], followed by the 3D-MIP-MRA [78%, 80% resp.] and axial 2D-MIP-MRA [73%, 79% resp.]. MRA of renal arteries used in this study shows to be not adequate to DSA results due to many drawbacks. All MRA-techniques, in particular the 3D-technique, tend to overestimate RAS occasionally pretending occlusions.