Vascular: Renal CTA

Abstract

Computed tomography angiography (CTA) plays an integral role in the pre-operative evaluation of patients for donor nephrectomies. It can also be useful in the evaluation of patients with hypertension suspected to be caused by renal artery stenosis (RAS). Examinations including plain film intravenous urography for the detection of stones and renal masses combined with catheter-directed conventional angiography for depicting the renal arterial supply were once common in pre-operative evaluations. Recently, protocols including MR angiography (MRA) and CTA have been instituted at many centers. These provide all of the necessary information and are less invasive. © 2008 Springer Medizin Verlag Heidelberg.