Split renal function in patients with suspected renal artery stenosis: a comparison between gamma camera renography and two methods of measurement with computed tomography

Purpose: To validate a method for calculating split renal function from computed tomography (CT) compared with gamma camera renography, and to test a new method for the measurement based on a volume-rendering technique.

Material and Methods: Thirty-eight patients, aged 65.7±11.6 (range 37.8-82.1) years, who had undergone both CT angiography and gamma camera renography for a suspected renal artery stenosis were included in this study. Split renal function was calculated from the CT examinations by measuring area and mean attenuation in the image slices of the kidneys, and also by measuring volume and mean attenuation from a 3D reconstruction of the kidneys. Gamma camera renography with ^99mTc-MAG3 with or without captopril enhancement was used as a reference.

Results: The 2D CT method had good correlation with renography (r = 0.93). Mean difference was 4.7±3.6 (0-12) percentage points per kidney. There was also excellent correlation between the two CT methods (r = 1.00).

Conclusion: CT is equivalent to renography in determining split renal function, and the measurement from the CT examination can be made more quickly and equally accurately with a 3D technique.