[Investigation of renal corticomedullary differentiation with age-related change on non-contrast-enhanced MRI].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the relationship between renal corticomedullary differentiation, renal cortical thickness and age-related changes with non-contrast-enhanced steady-state free precession(SSFP) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and spatially selective inversion recovery(IR) pulse technology as well as its applied value . METHODS: A total of 76 healthy volunteers had been recruited from August 2014 to June 2015 in First Hospital of China Medical University.All volunteers were divided into three groups: 2-40 years old, 41-60 years old, 61-80 years old. All 76 volunteers underwent non-contrast-enhanced steady-state free precession(SSFP) 3.0 T MRI scan using variable inversion times (TIs)(TI=1 000, 1 100, 1 200, 1 300, 1 400, 1 500, 1 600, 1 700 ms). The renal corticomedullary differentiation was observed and the signal intensity of renal cortex and medulla were measured respectively as well in order to calculate renal corticomedullary contrast ratio. Besides, renal cortical thickness and renal size were measured. RESULTS: All 76 volunteers were successfully performed all the sequences of MRI scan, including 152 useful imaging of kidney in total. The renal corticomedullary differentiation was clearly shown in all subjects. There was negative correlation between the optimal inversion time(TI) and age(r=-0.65, P<0.01). Similarly, negative correlation was observed between renal corticomedullary contrast ratio and age(r=-0.35, P<0.01). The mean renal cortical thickness of all subjects was (5.33±0.71)mm and there were statistically significant difference among those different groups, which was negative-related with age(r=-0.79, P<0.01). There was no statistically significant difference between sexuality and renal cortical thickness.Additionally, renal cortical thickness had no statistically significant difference in both sides of kidneys. CONCLUSION: The renal corticomedullary differentiation is depicted clearly by means of non-contrast-enhanced steady-state free precession MRI with spatially selective inversion recovery pulse technology. The optimal inversion time decreases along with the increase of age. In the meanwhile, the renal cortical thickness could be measured truthfully and accurately.