Corticomedullary Differentiation of the Kidney with Non-Contrast-Enhanced Mr Imaging with Time-Spatial Labeling Inversion Pulse: Comparison of Imaging with Fast Asymmetric Spin Echo and Steady-State Free-Precession Sequences

Akihiko Kanki¹, Katsuyoshi Ito¹, Tsutomu Tamada¹, Yasufumi Noda¹, Kazuya Yasokawa¹, Tomohiro Sato¹

This study compared the two different MR sequences, fast asymmetric spin echo (FASE) and steady-state free-precession (SSFP) combined with time-spatial labeling inversion pulse (Time-SLIP), for the better visualization of corticomedullary differentiation in the normal kidney. Both FASE and SSFP MR imaging with Time-SLIP can be used to visualize the renal corticomedullary differentiation in normal kidneys without using contrast agents. SSFP sequence with Time-SLIP may be preferable for the measurement of renal cortical thickness or volume because of good visualization of corticomedullary junction and high image quality although FASE sequence with Time-SLIP had high corticomedullary contrast ratio.