Contrast-enhanced dynamic magnetic resonance nephrography in healthy dogs

Twenty-three healthy mixed-breed male adult dogs were examined using serial magnetic resonance (MR) renograms. The images were obtained using a dynamic gradient-echo, fast SPGR, T1-weighted sequence and low doses of gadolinium chelates (0.025 mmol/kg). Time–intensity curves were obtained to assess typical urinary excretion parameters, namely, time to vascular peak (TVP), time to vascular drop (TVD), time to glomerular peak (TGP), parenchymal phase length (PPL), gradient of parenchymal phase (GPP) and pattern of excretory segment. The mean TVP, TVD, TGP and PPL were 31.6 ± 11.8, 43.4 ± 11.2, 154.0 ± 36.2 and 115.2 ± 37.7 s, respectively. The GPP was 24.1 ± 8.6% of signal intensity per min. The excretory segment was concave in all cases, and at the end of the examination, 87.1% of kidneys had shown a reduction in signal intensity of 50%. This MR nephrography protocol can provide adequate time–intensity curve parameters for the urinary system of dogs, offers excellent anatomical detail, and represents an alternative to radionuclide nephrography.