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Background: Renal surface nodularity (RSN) is a subclinical biomarker of renal injury and may be associated with arterial hypertension. Purpose: To explore the association of RSN with arterial hypertension compared to normotensive patients. Material and Methods: A total of 205 inpatients with or without high blood pressure (HBP vs. control group) who underwent abdominal computed tomography (CT) scans were included. Their clinical characteristics included age, sex, HBP course, HBP grade, history of diabetes mellitus (DM), and renal function (estimated glomerular filtration rate [eGFR]). The HBP group included HBP/+DM and HBP/–DM based on the presence or absence of DM. The CT-based RSN grade was scored from 0 to 2 by two radiologists, respectively, where RSN grade 0 indicated smooth renal surface, grade 1 was mild RSN, and grade 2 was marked RSN. Results: The inter-rater agreement on RSN was good (Kappa = 0.76). The age-specific rate of RSN grade 1–2 was bigger in the HBP group than in the control group (42.86% [40%–49.22%] vs. 2.18% [0.00%–22.5%]; P = 0.005). RSN grade was associated with HBP course (P < 0.02). The rates of RSN grade 1–2 and of RSN grade 2 were bigger in the HBP/+DM group than those in the HBP/–DM group (48.84% vs. 37.84%, and 18.61% vs. 1.35%, respectively; all P = 0.001). Neither HBP course nor HBP grade correlated with rate of RSN grade (P > 0.05). The eGFR was similar among the RSN grades in HBP or between the HBP and control groups (P > 0.05). Conclusion: RSN was associated with HBP compared to normotensive patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Because renal dysfunction is a worldwide problem, accurate assessment is required for planning treatment and follow-up. Intra-voxel incoherent motion (IVIM) can isolate fast from slow water motion in well-perfused organs and may be helpful in assessing renal dysfunction.Purpose: To determine the clinical value of IVIM in the assessment of renal dysfunction compared with a mono-exponential model.Material and Methods: Fifty-four consecutive participants (mean age, 53.13 ± 13.96 years) were recruited into this study. The estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was calculated to classify the participants as having severe renal injury (sRI, eGFR ≤ 30 mL/min/1.73 m(2)) or not (non-sRI). DWI with seven b-factors was performed. Image analysis was performed by a radiologist to generate an apparent diffusion coefficient map (ADCmon) by mono-exponential model, diffusion coefficient (Dslow and Dfast), and fraction of fast diffusion (Ffast) maps by IVIM. The circular regions of interest were placed at the interface between the cortex and medulla for parameter measurements.Results: The ADCmon, Dslow, Dfast, and Ffast were less in sRI than non-sRI (P < 0.05). ADCmon and Dslow were positively related with eGFR (P < 0.05). For differentiating sRI from non-sRI, receiver operating characteristic curve indicated no significant difference between the two methods (P > 0.05). Furthermore, the correlation was 0.93 between ADCmon and Dslow, followed by 0.57 between Dfast and Ffast, 0.48 between ADCmon and Dfast, and 0.34 between ADCmon and Ffast (P < 0.05).Conclusion: The IVIM model contributed little to improving the assessment of renal dysfunction compared with a mono-exponential model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To explore the association of renal surface nodularity (RSN) with the increased adverse vascular event (AVE) risk in patients with arterial hypertension., Methods: This cross-sectional study included patients with arterial hypertension aged 18-60 years who underwent contrasted computed tomography (CT) of kidney from January 2012 to December 2020. The subjects were classified into AVE or not (non-AVE) matched with age (≤5 years) and sex. Their CT images were analyzed using both qualitative (semiRSN) and quantitative RSN (qRSN) methods, respectively. Their clinical characteristics included age, sex, systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure, hypertension course, diabetes history, hyperlipidemia, and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR)., Results: Compared with non-AVE group ( n  = 91), AVE ( n  = 91) was at lower age, higher SBP, and fewer rate of diabetes and hyperlipidemia history (all P  < .01). Rate of positive semiRSN was higher in AVE than non-AVE (49.45% vs 14.29%, P  < .001). qRSN was larger in AVE than non-AVE [1.03 (0.85, 1.33) vs 0.86 (0.75,1.03), P  < .001]. The increased AVE was associated with semiRSN (odds ratio = 7.04, P  < .001) and qRSN (odds ratio = 5.09, P  = .003), respectively. For distinguishing AVE from non-AVE, the area under receiver operating characteristic was bigger in the models combining the clinical characteristics with either semiRSN or qRSN than that of semiRSN or qRSN alone ( P ≤.01)., Conclusion: Among the patients with arterial hypertension aged 18-60 years, CT imaging-based RSN was associated with increased AVE risk.

Objective: To explore the influence of signal noise ratio (SNR) on analysis of clear cell renal cell carcinoma (CCRCC) using DWI with multi-b values., Methods: The images of 17 cases with CCRCC were analyzed, including 17 masses and 9 pure cysts. The signal intensity of the cysts and masses was measured separately on DWI for each b value. The minimal SNR, as the threshold, was recorded when the signal curve manifest as the single exponential line. The SNR of the CCRCC was calculated on DWI for each b value, and compared with the threshold by independent Two-sample t Test., Results: The signal decreased on DWI with increased b factors for both pure cysts and CCRCC. The threshold is 1.29 ± 0.17, and the signal intensity of the cysts on DWI with multi-b values shown as a single exponential line when b ≤ 800 s/mm(2). For the CCRCC, the SNR is similar to the threshold when b = 1 000 s/mm(2) (t = 0.40, P = 0.69), and is lower when b = 1 200 s/mm(2) (t = -2.38, P = 0.03)., Conclusion: The SNR should be sufficient for quantitative analysis of DWI, and the maximal b value is 1000 s/mm(2) for CCRCC.