Execratory MR Urography

  • To evaluate renal parenchyma, pelvicalyceal system and rest of the urinary tract.

Patients with:

  • Hematuria
  • Dilated or potentially obstructed collecting system
  • Documented urothelial cell carcinoma (UCC) or other tumors of the urinary tract which require staging or re-staging.
Recent serum creatinine level. OR Recent GFR level.
  • Routine medication should not be stopped.
  • Fasting for 4-6 hours.
  • Diuretic administration: low dose of furosemide (5–10 mg) just prior to contrast injection if no contraindications exist.
  • A nurse will insert an intravenous catheter (IV line) into a vein in your hand or arm that will be used to inject the contrast material.
  • Supine position on a moveable exam table. Straps and bolsters may be used to help you stay still and maintain your position.
  • Devices that contain coils capable of sending and receiving magnetic waves placed around the body area being scanned (abdomen &pelvis).
  • Standard non-fat suppressed T1WIs, in- and opposed-phase sequences are useful for detecting intracellular lipid in incidental adrenal masses and clear cell carcinoma of the kidney as well as for characterizing some angiomyolipomas.
  • 3D fat-suppressed T1WIs sequence enhances the conspicuity of the ureters.
  • Post contrast Dynamic phases (injection of gadolinium 0.1 mmol/kg by injector):
    1. Corticomedullary 30-40 sec
    2. Nephrographic 90-110 sec
    3. After two postcontrast acquisitions, we immediately image the urinary bladder to ensure that we obtain images with bladder wall enhancement prior to the arrival of gadolinium-based contrast agent via the ureters. This procedure prevents mixing artifacts, which may obscure bladder tumors.
    4. Excretory 5-15 min
  • When the exam is complete, you may be asked to wait while the radiologist checks the images in case more are needed.
  • The exam is done on one of the latest MRI machines from GE, SIEMENS & PHILIPS in Alfa scan branches.
  • We recommend you continue drinking plenty of fluid after the examination, as it helps rapid washout of contrast material out of your body except if you are on fluid balance for renal or cardiac condition, then please review your physician in that matter.