Sodium MR Imaging of Human Kidney using a Dual-Tuned (23Na/1H) Body RF Coil at 3T: Quantitative Assessment of Sodium Concentration & Corticomedullary Gradient in Healthy Subjects

Alessandro Furlan¹, Chan-Hong Moon¹, Jung-Hwan Kim¹, Xiang He¹, Bumwoo Park¹, Tiejun Zaho², Kyongtae Ty Bae¹

We performed 23Na/1H MR imaging of normal human kidneys in vivo using a newly developed dual-tuned kidney coil at 3T and quantified renal sodium concentration and corticomedullary gradient. Non-invasive assessment of alteration in corticomedullary sodium gradient may serve as an early indicator of renal pathology.