Non Contrast Enhanced (NCE)-MRA of the Renal Transplant Vessels: A comparison between IFIR and VIPR-SSFP

摘要: The development of NCE-MRA methods to visualize the renal transplant vessels remains of tremendous clinical importance. In this retrospective study, we investigated the MR angiographic performance of a 3D radial sequence (VIPR-SSFP) compared to an inflow-weighted technique (IFIR) known to provide excellent visualization of the renal arteries. After identifying 21 renal transplant patients who received VIPR-SSFP and IFIR scans, two practicing radiologists scored these patients images on several criteria reflecting angiographic quality. Results demonstrate that VIPR-SSFP provides superior visualization of the renal veins and improved fat suppression, while IFIR provides somewhat superior visualization of the renal arteries.