Abstract #1234

Thoeny H, Eisenberger U, Boesch C, Vermathen P

In this feasibility study diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) was performed in native kidneys of nine healthy subjects and in two patients with transplanted kidneys using a 3T MR-scanner. One multiple breath-hold and one untriggered DWI measurement was performed in each subject. The study clearly demonstrates that DWI is feasible at 3T and provides reliable results. No substantial improvements for breath-hold scans versus untriggered acquisitions were detected. Currently, DWI at 3T of human kidneys does not provide better results than at 1.5T. Geometric distortions play a minor role, if parallel imaging is employed allowing for short TE times.