Analysis of Renal Artery Variation Using 64-slice Spiral Computed Tomography Angiography

Objective To study the renal artery variation using64-slice spiral computed tomography angiography.Materials and Methods The raw data of 116 patients with renal artery variation were recontrusted at the Vitrea 4.1 workstation.The features of renal artery variation were observed and analyzed using volume rendering(VR),Vessel Probe(VP) postprocessing methods and combined with original images.Results 182 renal artery variations were found in 116 patients originated from the level of T12 to L5 vertebrae.Among them,160(87.9%,160 /182) renal arteries originated from the level of L1 to L2 vertebrae,53.3%(97 /182)(12 arteries originated from anterior wall,3 posterior wall,82 lateral wall) renal arteries originated from abdominal aorta.Renal arteries entered the upper kidney pole in 75 arteries,entered the renal hilus in 64,and entered the lower pole in 43.Category Ⅰ renal artery variation was 78.67%(118 /150) and category Ⅱ was 21.33%(32 /150).60 patients of renal artery variation associated with kidney and renal artery diseases,and 36 patients associated with hypertension.Conclusion Renal artery variation has many forms,and 64 slice spiral CT angiography can accurately display the origin,number,size,branching pattern,course,and relationship with the renal artery,abdominal aorta and vertebrae.CT has significant clinical value in the guidance for kidney and urinary system surgery.