Magnetic resonance imaging of the genitourinary tract.

Abstract

Advances have occurred in practically all aspects of MR imaging of the genitourinary tract. Fat-suppressed T1 weighting and dynamic-enhanced imaging are two new methods for evaluating renal and adrenal masses. MR angiography techniques are beginning to depict anatomy with sufficient detail to be considered clinical tools. Bladder cancers can be better staged with enhanced high-resolution images, especially when combined with surface coils. Endorectal surface coils continue to provide dramatic images of the prostate and have significantly improved local staging with MR imaging. MR imaging is proving superior to all other techniques in staging endometrial and cervical cancers, and high-resolution, fat-suppressed, fast spin-echo techniques will undoubtedly further improve the diagnostic utility of this modality.