Renal and perfusion imaging at 3 T.

Magnetic resonance imaging is frequently used in the workup of various renal pathologies. In daily clinical practice, these studies are mainly performed on 1.5-T magnetic resonance systems. However, the potential benefits of going to higher field strengths include higher signal-to-noise ratios, faster imaging, and better spatial resolution. As of now, few studies have been performed in the kidneys at 3 T because of the limited availability and the prevalence of signal voids, susceptibility artifacts, incomplete fat suppression, and specific absorption rate problems. In the last couple of years, however, a number of technical advances have been made to overcome these problems and allow renal imaging to be performed at 3 T. This review article aimed to provide an overview of the current clinical status of renal imaging at 3 T. We will discuss both anatomical and functional imaging of the kidneys, with some special focus on perfusion imaging.