Role of Multidetector Computed Tomography for Evaluation of Living Kidney Donors

BACKGROUND: Kidney transplantation from living donors has been increased recently. Preoperative evaluation of living donor is important to select the appropriate kidney for transplantation and to decrease donor surgical complications. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to compare the accuracy of the use of multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) to evaluate vascular anatomy in living kidney donors with traditional angiography. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total number of 60 living kidney donors who underwent open surgical approach for transplantation were selected: Kidney anatomy of donors evaluated by CT angiography (group 1) or traditional angiographic examination (group 2). Renal vessels anatomy was compared with surgical findings in both groups. RESULTS: The accuracy for detecting number of main renal arteries were not different in both groups which were 96.7% in CT angiography group and 90% in traditional angiography group (P = 0.15). The accuracy for detection of main renal veins were 100% in group 1 and 96.7% in group 2 (P = 0.31). CONCLUSIONS: MDCT has the same accuracy as traditional angiography to detect renal abnormalities in living kidney donors.