Semiautomated MIP images created directly on 16-section multidetector CT console for evaluation of living renal donors

Institutional Review Board approval was obtained and informed consent was waived for this HIPAA-compliant study. The aim of this study was to retrospectively compare the accuracy of semiautomated maximum intensity projection (MP) images created at a 16-section multidetector CT console with three-dimensional (3D) - workstation-generated images for the delnition of renal donor anatomy, with intraoperative findings as a reference standard. In examining 40 renal donors (21 men and 19 women; age range, 24-56 years; mean age, 40.4 years), the sensitivity and accuracy for mapping donor anatomy by two readers were greater than 95%, interobserver agreement was excellent (κ = 0.89-1.00). The 95% confidence interval for sensitivity was also calculated. Simple MIPs compared well with 3D-workstation images. MIPs from a predesigned protocol on the scanner console were generated more quickly than similar images from 3D workstations; postprocessing demands (eg, for renal donors) can be quickly fulfilled at the scanner console itself. The average time to generate simple MIPs at the console was 3.4 minutes (range, 1.7-4.4 minutes), and 22.3 minutes (range, 15-30 minutes) to create images at the 3D workstation.