Effect of Renal Vein Variations on Apparent Diffusion Coefficient in Asymptomatic Patients

Abstract

Aim:The aim of this study was to investigate whether renal vein variations had an effect on apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values in diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).Methods:Images of 958 patients who underwent MRI between January 2017 and October 2018 were retrospectively evaluated for renal vein variations based on the records obtained from the image archive. Forty-six patients with renal vein variations and thirty patients of similar age and gender as the control group enrolled in the study. The ADC values of both kidneys were measured at low-high b values.Results:The ADC values in the left kidney were lower than in the right kidney in both groups (2.04x10-3± 0.22x10-3 mm2/sec, 1.96x10-3±0.17x10-3 mm2/sec, for the renal vein variation group; p=0.008 and 2.08x10-3±0.13x10-3 mm2/sec, 1.94x10-3±0.11x10-3 mm2/sec, for the control group; p=0.0001). However, no significant difference was found between the renal vein variation and control groups in terms of the ADC values in both kidneys.Conclusion:Renal vein variations had no effect on renal ADC values in asymptomatic patients. Further studies can provide additional information for symptomatic patient groups.

Keywords

• renal vein variations
• diffusion magnetic resonance imaging
• adc