Normal Radiological Anatomy and Anatomical Variants of the Kidney

Abstract

The kidneys are very vascularized organs. Each kidney receives the highest blood flow per gram of organ weight in the body (1.2 L/min corresponding to 20% of the cardiac output, and a perfusion value of 400 mL/min/100 g). The most employed indicator of the renal function is the glomerular filtration rate (GFR), which can be estimated according to different formulas. The calculation of the GFR is essential for a correct employment of iodinated and gadolinium-based contrast agents. The most widely used equations for estimating GFR are the Cockcroft–Gault and the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease Study Group (MDRD) formulas.