Paul S. Tofts1, Marica Cutajar1,2,
Iosif Mendichovszky3, Isky Gordon2
1Imaging Physics, Brighton & Sussex
Medical School, Brighton, East Sussex, United Kingdom; 2Radiology
and Physics, UCL Institute of Child Health, London, United Kingdom; 3University
of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
The
precision and accuracy of a recent compartmental model of renal DCE-MRI is
investigated. Precision is assessed by repeated examination of 15 normal
volunteers; accuracy is assessed by comparison with published values (where
available). Local filtration (Ktrans) is reproducible (instrumental sd 15%)
and accurate (0.25 min-1), giving GFR 115 mL min-1. Mean Transit Time (5.9 s)
is reproducible (sd 6%) and a candidate biomarker. Blood flow is reproducible
to 12%, although absolute values are high. Filtration fraction is more
reproducible (8%) although lower than published values. Normal kidney volume
was measured as 214 mL/1.73m2.