Corticomedullary Differentiation of the Kidney: Evaluation with Non-Contrast-Enhanced Steady-State Free Precession (SSFP) MR Imaging with Time-Spatial Labeling Inversion Pulse (Time-SLIP)

Akihiko Kanki¹, Tsutomu Tamada¹, Yasufumi Noda¹, Atsushi Higaki¹, Satoko Okamoto¹, Katsuyoshi Ito¹

This study was carried out to assess the value of non-contrast-enhanced steady-state free precession (SSFP) MR imaging with time-spatial labeling inversion pulse (Time-SLIP) in the visualization of corticomedullary differentiation of the normal kidney. Our study showed that SSFP MR imaging with Time-SLIP can improve the visibility of renal corticomedullary differentiation without using contrast agents, and may have a potential to help evaluate the renal function in patients with diminished renal corticomedullary differentiation.