Imaging of the kidneys and MR urography at 3T

The use of MR imaging for assessment of the urinary tract is not a new concept. However, MR imaging of the kidneys, ureters, and bladder remains a seldom performed technique at many medical centers, in part due to the dominant role computed tomography (CT) has played for the evaluation of urinary tract neoplasms and stone disease. Growing interest in medical radiation dose reduction coupled with advances in MR imaging technology has stimulated interest in renal MR imaging and MR urography. While contrast resolution has been a major advantage of MR imaging over other imaging modalities for many body applications, the limited temporal and spatial resolution of MR imaging, in addition to its relative insensitivity for detecting calcifications, have impeded the widespread adoption of MR imaging for urinary tract imaging.