Most Useful Applications
for Plain X-Rays
Chest
Musculoskeletal
Abdomen: limited usefulness
GU
GI
Plain X-Rays
+ -
Widely available
Inexpensive
Doesn’t require
advanced technologist
knowledge
Can be performed
quickly
Portable
Ionizing Radiation
Relatively insensitive
Requires patient
cooperation
BNO-IVP
Use contrast media intravenously
Anatomic function:
Depict the minor calyx,
major calyx,
renal pelvis,
ureter,
urinary bladder.
Physiologic function:
Assess the kidney function in contrast media
filtration and excretion.
BNO-IVP
Procedure
1-3minute : Nephrogram phase
Ureteral compression
5 minute : Excretory function
15 minute : Pelviocalyceal system
Compression can be released if the pelviocalyceal system has
been seen adequately
30 minute : After the compression was released to
see the urinary tract from the kidney
to the bladder
45-60 minute : fullbladder
Post voiding : passage of contrast agent, retention
Fluoroscopy
Utilizes X-Rays
Real-time imaging
Utilizes image intensifier
Involves use of contrast agents
Main Uses of Fluoroscopy
Genitourinary Imaging
Gastrointestinal Imaging
Angiography
Other
Intraoperative
Foreign body removal
Musculoskeletal
Fluoroscopy
+ -
Widely Available
Inexpensive
Functional and Anatomic
No sedation required
Requires ingestion/injection
of contrast
Patient cooperation
Time consuming
Cystogram
Usually in adult patients
Looking for tear or intraluminal mass
Catheter placed and bladder filled with contrast
to capacity: usually 300-500 ml.
Spot films obtained when full
Post void film: usually overhead
Cystogram
Voiding Cystourethrogram
VCUG
Usually in children with history of UTI
Searching for vesicoureteral reflux
In males, evaluate for urethral abnormalities:
posterior urethral valves
Same as cystogram except when full patient
voids under fluoro with spot films
Retrograde Urethrogram
RUG
Male patients
Pelvic Trauma
Post-infectious: STD- looking for stricture
Different techniques
Meatus occluded and contrast injected into
urethra under fluoroscopy
Retrograde Urethrogram
RUG
ULTRASOUND OF KIDNEYS
NORMAL STUDY
DILATED RENAL
PELVIS
Ultrasound of Right Kidney
USG
Ultrasound of Right Kidney
Ultrasound is the best method
to measure the size of the
Kidney
Computed Tomography (CT)
•Cross Sectional imaging modality
•Mobile X-ray tube that rotates around a pt
•Slices of X-ray transmission data reconstructed to
generate image
•Data displayed in multiple window settings (lungs
parenchyma, bone, etc.)
•Density measurements/Hounsfield Units analyze
chemical component of tissue
•HU: -150-0 = fat, 0 = water, 0-20 = serous fluid,
45-75 = blood,
100-1000 =bone/calcium
CT
Axial, with oral contrast in stomach, no IV contrast
Inferior
Vena
Cava
Left Renal Vein Passes Anterior to
the Abdominal Aorta
RENAL ANGIOGRAPHY
NORMAL SUPPLY
OF BOTH
KIDNEYS BY
SINGLE RENAL
ARTERY
LEFT KIDNEY
SUPPLIED BY
TWO RENAL
ARTERIES
CT PET PET/CT
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
•Multi-planar scanning
•Without ionizing radiation
•Images generated using powerful magnets and
pulsed radio waves passing through the body
•Data from Pt’s body used to generate image
•Field strength of magnets 0.3-3.0 Tesla
MRI showing Left Kidney is
higher than Right Kidney
MRI
Long axis of the kidneys is directed downward and outward, Long axis of the kidneys is directed downward and outward,
parallel to the lateral border of the psoas musclesparallel to the lateral border of the psoas muscles
MRI of Kidneys
MR Contrast Agents
•Intravenous contrast---Gadolinium chelate-based
contrast agents
•Gadolinium is a paramagnetic lanthanide that is
toxic as a free metal
•Contrast to evaluate BBB, intracranial edema and
hemorrhage
•Novel agents being developed as tagged
Monoclonal antibodies for Molecular Imaging
MR Applications
Abdominal imaging
-Excellent tool due to high soft tissue contrast
resolution
-Multi-planar capability allows for monitoring
extent of disease
-Differentiating subtle soft tissue boundaries of
abdominal mass, ex: Renal cell ca
Innovative Modalities
•Constantly evolving face of radiology
•New contrast agents for CT and MR
•Molecular Imaging
- Imaging molecular events---enzymatic
activity, receptor binding, cellular events
•Interventional Radiology and Interventional
Neuroradiology