Genitourinary

The safety profile of gadolinium chelates in the setting of patients with renal insufficiency has contributed to the use of MRI in the evaluation of patients with renal diseases including renal masses and suspected renal artery stenosis. Renovascular disease (also covered under Vascular Imaging) is one of the most common treatable causes of hypertension, and is a common indication for renal MRI/MRA. Additionally, the characterization and staging of renal masses by MRI is easily performed with contrast-enhanced examinations. Other portions of the genitourinary tract are also well depicted by MRI, including the ureters, bladder, prostate and urethra. (The female genital tract is included under Women’s Imaging). In addition to improved anatomic imaging, more physiologic and biologic tests are being developed with MRI, such as renal functional measurements and prostate spectroscopy that may further improve the diagnostic utility of these studies.