Multidetector row computed tomography (MDCT) provides anatomical information about the kidney and other internal organs. Presently, the suitability of 64-channel MDCT to assess the kidney of healthy micropigs was evaluated. Morphological evaluations of the kidney and the major renal vessels of six healthy micropigs were carried out using MDCT, recording kidney volume and the diameter and length of renal arteries and veins. The mean diameters and lengths of the renal artery were 0.44 +/- 0.05 and 4.51 +/- 0.55 cm on the right side and 0.46 +/- 0.06 and 3.36 +/- 0.27 cm on the left side, respectively. The mean diameters and lengths of the renal vein were 1.44 +/- 0.52 and 4.22 +/- 1.29 cm on the right side and 1.38 +/- 0.17 and 5.15 +/- 0.87 cm on the left side, respectively. The mean volume of the right kidney was 79.3 +/- 14.5 mL and of the left kidney was 78.0 +/- 13.9 mL. The data presented in this study suggest that the MDCT offers a noninvasive, rapid, and accurate method for the evaluation of the renal anatomy in living kidney donors. It also provides sufficient information about extra-renal anatomy important for donor surgery and determination of organ suitability.
Animals ; Kidney/*anatomy & histology/blood supply ; Kidney Transplantation/methods/*veterinary ; Male ; Renal Artery/*anatomy & histology ; Renal Veins/*anatomy & histology ; Swine ; Swine, Miniature/*anatomy & histology ; Tissue and Organ Procurement/methods ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed/methods/*veterinary

The increased use of laparoscopic nephrectomy and nephron-sparing surgery has prompted the need for a more detailed radiological evaluation of the renal vascular anatomy. Multidetector CT angiography is a fast and accurate modality for assessing the precise anatomy of the renal vessels. In this pictorial review, we present the multidetector CT angiography appearances of the normal renal vascular anatomy and a spectrum of various anomalies that require accurate vascular depiction before undergoing surgical treatment.
Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Renal Artery/abnormalities/anatomy & histology/*radiography ; Renal Veins/abnormalities/anatomy & histology/*radiography ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed/*methods ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the value of spinal and paraspinal anatomic markers in both the diagnosis of lumbosacral transitional vertebrae (LSTVs) and identification of vertebral levels on lumbar MRI. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Lumbar MRI from 1049 adult patients were studied. By comparing with the whole-spine localizer, the diagnostic errors in numbering vertebral segments on lumbar MRI were evaluated. The morphology of S1-2 disc, L5 and S1 body, and lumbar spinous processes (SPs) were evaluated by using sagittal MRI. The positions of right renal artery (RRA), superior mesenteric artery, aortic bifurcation (AB) and conus medullaris (CM) were described. RESULTS: The diagnostic error for evaluation of vertebral segmentation on lumbar MRI alone was 14.1%. In lumbarization, all patients revealed a well-formed S1-2 disc with squared S1 body. A rhombus-shaped L5 body in sacralization and a rectangular-shaped S1 body in lumbarization were found. The L3 had the longest SP. The most common sites of spinal and paraspinal structures were: RRA at L1 body (53.6%) and L1-2 disc (34.1%), superior mesenteric artery at L1 body (55.1%) and T12-L1 disc (31.6%), and AB at L4 body (71.1%). CM had variable locations, changing from the T12-L1 disc to L2 body. They were located at higher sacralization and lower lumbarization. CONCLUSION: The spinal morphologic features and locations of the spinal and paraspinal structures on lumbar MRI are not completely reliable for the diagnosis of LSTVs and identification on the vertebral levels.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Anatomic Landmarks/*anatomy & histology ; Aorta, Abdominal/anatomy & histology ; Diagnostic Errors ; Female ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc/anatomy & histology ; Lumbar Vertebrae/*anatomy & histology ; Lumbosacral Region ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Mesenteric Artery, Superior/anatomy & histology ; Middle Aged ; Renal Artery/anatomy & histology ; Reproducibility of Results ; Sacrum/*anatomy & histology ; Spinal Cord/anatomy & histology ; Spine ; Young Adult

This study was to evaluate the value of dual-source CT in the preoperative assessment of living donor kidneys. We collected fifty-five consecutive living kidney donors (male 35, female 20, average age, 39 years old), and performed dual-source CT scan. The plain scan, pre-enhanced arterial phase and venous phase examinations were performed, with the scan level ranged from the 11th thoracic vertebral body to the iliac crest. All the basic images were reconstructed using volume rendering(VR), maximum intensity projection (MIP), multi-planar reconstruction (MPR) techniques to evaluate the anatomical location and variation of renal arteries and veins, and the morphology and function of kidney and urinary tract. All the 55 cases were successful, with completion of CT scan and clear images. 46 cases among the all cases had normal renal arteries and veins, while 6 cases had accessory arteries, 2 cases had pre-hilar renal artery branching, and 1 case had vein variation. For the renal parenchymas, 48 cases were normal, while 2 cases had angiomyolipoma and 5 cases had cortical cyst. There were no variation and disease in upper urinary tract. Compared with the surgical findings, the diagnostic accuracy was 100% with dual-source CT. In conclusion, the dual-source CT can accurately evaluate the vessel of kidney, renal parenchyma and upper urinary tract of living renal donors, can provide reliable imaging information for screening of living donor kidney and can help make operation program in living kidney transplantation.
Adult ; Angiography ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Kidney ; anatomy & histology ; blood supply ; Kidney Transplantation ; methods ; Living Donors ; Male ; Preoperative Period ; Renal Artery ; anatomy & histology ; diagnostic imaging ; Renal Veins ; anatomy & histology ; diagnostic imaging ; Tomography, Spiral Computed ; methods