Summary
At present, MRI of the kidney is considered to be a problem-solving imaging modality that is complementary to CT and ultrasound. The anatomy of the kidney and perirenal space is consistently visualized on MRI, which provides excellent demonstration of the corticomedullary differentiation on T1-weighted images. The indistinctness or obliteration of corticomedullary differentiation is a sensitive but nonspecific finding. The large field of view provided by MRI facilitates the diagnosis of congenital anomalies, but the high cost of the examination precludes its use as a primary imaging method. The use of contrast media has expanded the application of MRI into the detection and characterization of renal masses. However, the greatest value of MRI lies in the staging of renal-cell carcinoma, specifically in cases in which CT and ultrasound findings have proved to be inconclusive. The main advantages provided by MRI in such cases involve the assessment of vascular patency and the evaluation of direct tumor extension.
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Hricak, H., Campos, Z. & Carroll, P. Magnetic resonance imaging of the kidney. World J Urol 10, 154–160 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00213671
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00213671