Age-Related Change in Renal Corticomedullary Differentiation: Evaluation with Non-Contrast-Enhanced Steady-State Free Precession (SSFP) MR Imaging with Time-Spatial Labeling Inversion Pulse (Time-Slip)

Yasufumi Noda¹, Akihiko Kanki, Tsutomu Tamada, Akira Yamamoto, Atsushi Higaki, Tomohiro Sato, Daigo Tanimoto, Katsuyoshi Ito

Age-related change in renal corticomedullary differentiation was evaluated by means of non-contrast-enhanced SSFP MR imaging with Time-SLIP. In normal kidney, non-contrast-enhanced SSFP MR imaging with Time-SLIP can be used to assess the renal corticomedullary differentiation and cortical thickness without influence of the aging although optimal TI value for the best visualization of renal corticomedullary junction should be shortened with aging. This fact suggested that SSFP MR imaging with Time-SLIP has a potential to evaluate the renal function based on renal cortical thickness or volume without considering an age-related change.