Can the IVIM model be used for renal perfusion imaging?

OBJECTIVE Renal perfusion imaging may provide information about the hemodynamic significance of a renal artery stenosis and could improve noninvasive characterization when combined with angiography. It was proposed previously that diffusion sequences could provide useful perfusion indices based on the intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) model. Owing to motion artifacts, diffusion imaging has been restricted to relatively immobile organs like the brain. With the availability of single-shot echo-planar imaging (EPI) our purpose was to evaluate the IVIM model in renal perfusion. METHODS AND MATERIAL Eight volunteers underwent diffusion-sensitive magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of the kidneys using a spin echo (SE) EPI sequence. The diffusion coefficients determined by a linear regression analysis and fits to the IVIM function were calculated. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION Our preliminary experience does not support the possibility of obtaining perfusion information using the IVIM model in the kidneys.