Background: To correlate the anatomical and functional information obtained using MRI in comparison to the techniques traditionally used in the study of uropathies, and to compare their physical and socioeconomic impacts.
Methods: For a period of eleven months we carried out a prospective study of 22 patients of both sexes ranging in age from 1 to 180 months. All suffered from one or another uropathy. Fifty-five percent of the patients were from external consultation while 45% had been diagnosed prenatally. The imaging techniques compared with MRI were as follows: echography, renogram, renal DMSA scan, urography and cystography. For the MRI gadolinium was used, as well as general anesthesia in some cases.
Results: There was a significant correlation (r = 0.942 p < 0.01) between MRI and the traditional explorations for the diagnosis of hydronephrosis, horseshoe kidney, kidney duplication, kidney hypoplasia and hypertrophy, multicystic kidney, ureterocele, pyeloureteral stenosis, vesicoureteral stenosis, atrophy of the renal artery, and missing kidney. It was not useful for reflux. Comparing to renal function differential on renogram there was an 86% agreement between the results. The average number of visits was 5.7 and missed workdays 4.1. The cost as a result of MRI was less than that for other explorations (Chi2 = 27,909 p < 0.001).
Conclusions: MRI provides the same information, both morphological and concerning functional quality, as well as vascular, as that obtained through traditional explorations. Irradiation with MRI is nil. At times it requires anesthesia. Its practice reduces costs, visits, missed workdays, and travel time. In the future it could probably be possible to carry out cystography and hydric/diuretic overload testing at the same time, the efficacy will be increased.