[MR angiography of hemodialysis access fistula: evaluation before PTA procedure].

We evaluated the feasibility of MR angiography for hemodialysis fistula. Eleven patients with suspected stenosis or occlusion of an autogenous hemodialysis fistula in the forearm underwent MRA. MRA was obtained using both the 3D-PC method and 3D gadolinium contrast-enhanced (CE) method with a knee coil. The two methods were compared with DSA in seven patients. CE-MRA clearly demonstrated the entire dialysis fistula. However, signals of the stenotic area are effaced in PC-MRA. The diameter of the vessels evaluated in the CE-MRA was well correlated with angiography. CE-MRA demonstrated smaller collateral vessels more clearly than PC-MRA. CE-MRA provided useful information before the PTA procedure.