Abstract：Objective: To investigate the clinical significance of biphasic scanning and postprocessing reconstruction images with MDCT in evaluating renal vein abnormalities. Materials and Methods: Eighteen cases with renal vein abnormalities on MDCT were analyzed retrospectively, which included renal vein variations in 3 cases, venous thrombi in 9 cases, left renal vein entrapment syndromes in 3 cases, splenorenal shunt, arteriovenous fistula and vein aneurysm in each case respectively. The ability to display renal vein abnormalities on biphasic scanning and all kinds of postprocessing reconstruction images were compared. Results: ①Renal vein abnormalities and concomitant lesions were clearly displayed on biphasic scanning images of MDCT. All renal vein abnormalities could be found preliminarily on arterial phase images. Renal vein tributaries, collateral vessels, tumor thrombus and associated abnormalities of venous system could be more predominant on venous phase images than those on arterial phase images. ②The information of exterior and interior to the lumen of vein could be displayed clearly on MPR, but whole vessel anatomy could not be manifested. Circuitous renal vein could be spread on CPR, but adjacent structures were also deformed. Renal vein anatomy and lesion were showed best on MIP, and especially thin-slab MIP had the advantage to decrease image overlap. VR had strong ability to display vessel configurations and was better than MIP at displaying overlapping vessels and arteriovenous malformations, but it could not show venous thrombosis. Conclusion: Biphasic scanning and appropriate postprocessing reconstruction methods on MDCT could demonstrate the renal vein anatomy and lesion satisfactorily and might be an accurate and safe method to evaluate renal vein abnormalities and concomitant lesions.
2006, Vol. 17 
