Is There a Role of Magnetic Resonance Imaging for Renal Trauma

Ku, Ja Hyeon; Kang, Yong Joo; Kim, Young Ho; Kim, Young Hwa; Jeon, Youn Soo; Lee, Nam Kyu; Park, Young Ho

Abstract

PURPOSE: Computed tomography (CT) has been the most informative imaging in renal trauma. Despite the good sensitivity of magnetic resonance (MR) imaging to the presence of hematuria, edema and ischemia, MR imaging has not been widely studied in patients with renal trauma. This present study was initiated to evaluate the role of MR imaging in patient with renal trauma.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
We prospectively reviewed the imaging of CT and MR imaging of 13 patients who suffered from renal trauma.
RESULTS
The presence and size of perirenal hematoma could be detected in both CT and MR imaging. However, MR imaging provided additional information about the onset of hematoma and could differentiate subcapsular hematoma from perirenal hamatoma more accurately. Focal renal infarction that was differentiated difficultly from perirenal hematoma on CT could be easily identified on MR imaging.
CONCLUSIONS
MR imaging determine the extent of parenchymal laceration and the status of perirenal hematoma, renal infaction and renal fragment more accurately than CT. Moreover, MR imaging has advantages including lack of ionizing radiation and no routine need for intravenous contrast medium. Therefore, we suggest that MR imaging can alternate CT in selected cases.