Objective: To evaluate perfusion characteristics of normal renal cortex with 64-slice spiral CT and to investigate the correlation between perfusion parameters and gender, age, and serum creatinine (Scr).
Methods: In total 71 healthy subjects, the kidney non-enhanced imaging and perfusion imaging with 64-slice spiral CT were performed. Perfusion parameters of renal cortex including blood flow (BF), blood volume (BV), and permeability (PM) were calculated with Siemens Body PCT (VB20B) software. The differences of BF, BV and PM in different age and gender people were compared by one-way ANOVA. The correlation between age and perfusion parameters, Scr, and PM were analyzed.
Results: Technical failures were experienced in 3 (3/71, 4.2%) subjects. Perfusion values of normal renal cortex in male, female, and all subjects were obtained separately. Male subjects (n = 56): BF = (229.8 +/- 49.9) ml/(100 ml x min), BV = (398.2 +/- 59.5) 1000:1, PM = (213.5 +/- 54.0) 0.5 ml/(100 ml x min); female subjects (n = 52): BF = (230.0 +/- 56.1) ml/(100 ml x min) BV = (358.1 +/- 49.7) 1000:1, PM = (186.2 +/- 32.1) 0.5 ml/(100 ml x min); all subjects (n = 108): BF = (229.9 +/- 52.7) ml/(100 ml x min), BV = (378.9 +/- 58.4) 1000:1, PM = (200.4 +/- 46.7) 0.5 ml/(100 ml x min). There was no significant difference in BF (F = 0.367, P = 0.547), BV (F = 3.088, P = 2.762), and PM (F = 3.308, P = 0.074) between male and female. In male, female, and all subjects, BF were all negatively correlated with age (r = -0.484, r = -0.429, r = -0.425; P < 0.01), while there was no correlation between BV (r = -0.152, r = -0.243, r = -0.043, P > 0.05) and PM (r = 0.053, r = 0.123, r = 0.172, P > 0.05) and age. There was no correlation between PM and Scr (r = 0.064, P > 0.05).
Conclusion: The measurement of normal renal cortical perfusion characteristics with 64-slice spiral CT is feasible and can be used for the quantitative evaluation of the physiological functions of normal renal cortex.