Spiral CT is a reasonably good alternative to renal angiography for living renal donor assessment but there is a profound learning curve for performance and interpretation. Renal angiography is still the gold standard with respect to the identification of arterial multiplicity and fibromuscular dysplasia, and it should be used adjunctively in cases with spiral CT ambiguity. Neither spiral CT nor renal angiography is ideal for the assessment of early renal artery division which is seldom an issue. The benefits of spiral CT over renal angiography are potentially lower morbidity, improved donor convenience and reduced cost.

Spiral CT is a reasonably good alternative to renal angiography for living renal donor assessment but there is a profound learning curve for performance and interpretation. Renal angiography is still the gold standard with respect to the identification of arterial multiplicity and fibromuscular dysplasia, and it should be used adjunctively in cases with spiral CT ambiguity. Neither spiral CT nor renal angiography is ideal for the assessment of early renal artery division which is seldom an issue. The benefits of spiral CT over renal angiography are potentially lower morbidity, improved donor convenience and reduced cost.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the safety and efficacy of three-dimensional spiral computed tomoangiography (3-D spiral CTA) of the abdomen as a substitute for renal angiography in the evaluation of potential live kidney donors. Two of 10 potential live renal donors underwent 3-D spiral CTA only, whereas the remaining 8 underwent 3-D spiral CTA and renal angiography before transplantation. 3-D spiral CTA and renal angiography results were compared and correlated with intraoperative findings. In all 8 cases in which 3-D spiral CTA and renal angiography were compared, the number of arteries was correctly identified by both modalities. In this limited study, 3-D spiral CTA provided the same information as did angiography. According to these findings, 3-D spiral CTA might be used as an alternative to renal angiography, though a larger series is needed to determine whether it could replace renal angiography for all potential live-donor work-ups.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the safety and efficacy of three-dimensional spiral computed tomoangiography (3-D spiral CTA) of the abdomen as a substitute for renal angiography in the evaluation of potential live kidney donors. Two of 10 potential live renal donors underwent 3-D spiral CTA only, whereas the remaining 8 underwent 3-D spiral CTA and renal angiography before transplantation. 3-D spiral CTA and renal angiography results were compared and correlated with intraoperative findings. In all 8 cases in which 3-D spiral CTA and renal angiography were compared, the number of arteries was correctly identified by both modalities. In this limited study, 3-D spiral CTA provided the same information as did angiography. According to these findings, 3-D spiral CTA might be used as an alternative to renal angiography, though a larger series is needed to determine whether it could replace renal angiography for all potential live-donor WOrk-ups.