Helical CT Angiography of Living Renal Donors: Comparison with 3D Fourier Transformation Phase Contrast MRA

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine whether helical CT angiography (CTA) or MR angiography (MRA) is the optimal method to use as a preoperative examination for anatomic arterial assessment of living renal donors. METHOD: Eighteen candidates to be renal donors underwent helical CTA, 3D Fourier transformation phase contrast (3D-FT-PC) MRA, and digital subtraction angiography (DSA). The CTA and MRA were interpreted separately by three readers independently, and these results were correlated with the findings of DSA. RESULTS: DSA showed nine accessory renal arteries and 10 prehilar branches. CTA revealed seven or eight accessory renal arteries. MRA showed six or seven accessory arteries. Of 10 prehilar branches, 7-9 branches were detected with CTA and 5-8 branches with MRA. CONCLUSION: Helical CTA is superior to 3D-FT-PC MRA for evaluating the arterial anatomy of living renal donors.