The analysis of renal artery cross-section area and kidney volume in computed tomography angiography

Abstract

Background: The purpose of this study was to assess the relationship between renal artery cross-section area and kidney volume with consideration of anatomical variants of renal arteries, sexual dimorphism and lateralisation. Materials and methods: Two hundred and two patients, 104 women and 98 men, aged 57.3 ± 16 years were examined using computed tomography angiography (CTA) of abdominal aorta for various reasons. The cross-section areas of renal arteries were measured automatically with a vessel tracking programme and summed up on each side in case of the presence of additional renal arteries. The kidneys were measured manually. Results: Additional renal arteries (ARA) were found in 68 (33.7%) patients. Fifty-three (77.9%) of them had one, 11 (16.2%) two and 4 (5.9%) three ARAs. Bilateral ARAs occurred in 10 cases (14.7% patients with ARA). Proximal branching of renal artery occurred in 36 (8.4%) renal arteries. The cross-section area of the largest renal artery depended on the number of ipsilateral renal arteries. Mean cross-section area of the main left renal artery was larger than on the right side (28.52 mm2 vs. 25.36 mm2, p < 0.01) in the whole analysed group. Strong sexual dimorphism in renal artery cross-section area was observed (p < 0.01) in favour of men (31.3 mm2 in men and 22.9 mm2 in women). Mean total renal artery cross-section area has positively correlated with kidney volume (p < 10–13) in both sexes with Pearson correlation value of 0.5. Conclusions: The cross-section area of renal arteries correlated positively with kidney volume in both sexes. Presence of ARAs does not influence the sum of cross-section areas of renal arteries. In case of a difference between left and right renal artery cross-section area with symmetrical kidneys, it is necessary to look for ARA.