Indian Journal of Urology (Jan 2002)
Comparison of spiral CT angiography vs digital subtraction angiography in the evaluation of living kidney donors
Abstract
Recent reports suggest that spiral computed tomographic (CT) angiography could replace conventional angiogra-phy and intravenous urography (IVU) for the assessment of potential live kidney donors. The purpose of this study was to assess the accuracy of spiral CT in kidney donor workup. 10 consecutive renal donors had IVU, percutane-ous transfemoral selective renal angiography and spiral CT angiography between January and March 2001. The spiral CT and renal angiograms were assessed independ-ently by two radiologists. The number of renal arteries, pres-ence or absence of renal artery stenoses and associated parenchymal abnormalities were assessed. A total of 27 renal arteries were detected. Transverse scans viewed in a tine loop format with maximum intensity projection and shaded surface display detected all 27 vessels. All 27 ves-sels were detected by conventional catheter angiography. A simple renal cyst was noted in both spiral CT and con-ventional angiogram. Venous anatomy including a retroaortic renal vein was visualized in spiral CT angiogram but not visualized by conventional angiography. Spiral CT angiography performed as an outpatient procedure is less invasive, less expensive, and provides good images of the arterial and venous anatomy in addition to the visualiza-tion of the other abdominal viscera. A plain X-ray of the abdomen was taken 15 rains after injection of contrast to acquire an IVU like image. Spiral CT angiography has the potential to replace conventional catheter angiography and IVU in the assessment of renal donors.
