acquiT he contribution of MR Urography in imaging congenital malformations in children - preliminary results

Magnetic resonance urography (MRU) is a fairly new technique which has been studied for the last 10 years. MRU offers increased spatial and temporal resolution and provides quantitative functional information on renal perfusion, excretion and drainage. This article presents the first results obtained from MRU studies in children in Northern Greece. 21 children (3-11 years old) diagnosed with congenital malformations were studied with MRU. A standardized protocol was created in order to make MRU feasible in everyday use, based on protocols suggested by other researchers. Both T1 and T2 weighted images were obtained using the following sequences: 2D Τ2-weighted fat saturation, 3D single shot fast spin-echo (SSFSE/RARE), 2D Radial SSFSE and T1-weighted gradient LAVA (3D SPGR). In 16 out of the 21 cases the MRU images and data agreed with the previous diagnosis based on radionuclide and ultrasound studies. In 5 cases MRU provided additional information, altering or even overruling the previous diagnosis. These 5 cases are presented in this article.