Evaluation of RARE-MR urography in the assessment of ureterohydronephrosis.

OBJECTIVE: The goal of this prospective study was to evaluate the value of the fast imaging sequence called RARE-MR urography (RMU) for the diagnosis of ureterohydronephrosis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty-nine patients underwent this procedure. The results were compared with those obtained by intravenous urography (IVU) and ultrasonography (US).

RESULTS: The accuracy of RMU in the detection of urinary tract dilatation and the localization of the level of obstruction was excellent (100%). The determination of the type of obstruction, intrinsic versus extrinsic, was 80% by IVU and 60% for RMU. The RMU sequence alone could not specify the nature of the obstruction. Functional information about the obstructed collecting system could not be obtained.

CONCLUSION: The RMU technique may be considered in the following circumstances: contraindications to IVU (allergy to contrast medium, severe renal failure), impairment of renal excretion, and failure to locate the level of obstruction by US. The absence of ionizing radiations favors the promotion of this procedure to study ureterohydronephrosis during pregnancy.