[Magnetic resonance tomography without and with gadolinium-DTPA for evaluating kidney transplants].

PURPOSE: To determine the value of MR imaging in differentiating the various causes of human renal allograft dysfunction.

METHODS

A total of 123 human renal allografts (normal n = 20, acute rejection n = 57, acute tubular necrosis n = 14, interstitial fibrosis n = 11, chromic allograft glomerulopathy n = 11, cyclosporine nephrotoxicity n = 3, cortical necrosis n = 7) were investigated by means of MR imaging. Axial T1-weighted spin-echo images and coronal T1-weighted gradient-echo images were obtained before and after Gd-DTPA injection. Diagnostic parameters included corticomedullary contrast and allograft size and shape on the pre-contrast sequences.

RESULTS

None of the diagnostic parameters used could differentiate among the various diagnostic groups. Diagnostic of cortical necrosis could be made only on post-contrast scans. Contrast-enhanced scans were superior to pre-contrast images in detection of focal allograft lesions. Otherwise, contrast-enhanced scans did not provide any more information than pre-contrast studies. Spin-echo and gradient-echo sequences displayed the same diagnostic value.

CONCLUSIONS

MR imaging has a limited value in differentiating the various causes of renal allograft dysfunction.