Comparative review of imaging methods used for diagnosing renal artery stenosis

Abstract

This comparative review examines the efficacy of different imaging methods to detect and quantify renal artery stenosis (RAS). Detection of RAS is important because it can lead to renovascular hypertension which is the most common form of secondary hypertension. Furthermore, it is important that a RAS is detected as early as possible as it is a potentially correctable cause of hypertension. 1 If detected at an early stage RAS can potentially be treated using a minimally invasive drug treatment regimen rather than the more invasive percutaneous transluminal renal angioplasty without or with stent placement or surgery. Currently there are a number of different types of modalities used to image the renal artery and determine whether a stenosis is present. Each of these imaging modalities has its own positive and negative aspects, which will be discussed in turn.