Kidney Transplant Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Kidney Transplant, including details on risks, prognosis, procedure, surgery, organ donation.

Contrast-enhanced MR angiography (CE-MRA) in the evaluation of vascular complications of renal transplantation.

Jain R, Sawhney S

Department of Radiology, College of Medicine, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Oman. rajeev@squ.edu.om

Vascular complications associated with renal transplantation merit urgent investigation since they are often correctable, and timely intervention can help salvage the graft kidney. Contrast-enhanced MR angiography (CE-MRA) is a promising non-invasive technique, uses relatively non-nephrotoxic contrast agents and can rapidly demonstrate the underlying lesion in most instances. In this pictorial review we present the spectrum of abnormalities, as well as the pitfalls of interpretation of CE-MRA, that we encountered in 41 cases where there was clinical suspicion of vascular complications of renal transplantation. We believe that CE-MRA is a valuable, non-invasive screening technique in these cases, and further investigation and management of these patients can be confidently tailored to the results of the CE-MRA study.

Published 14 October 2005 in Clin Radiol, 60(11): 1171-81.
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