VIDEO: Computed tomography most common imaging modality for patients with ADPKD

BOSTON — Among patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease, computer tomography was the most frequently used imaging modality, according to results of a study presented at the National Kidney Foundation Spring Clinical Meetings, here.

“Nephrologists who take care of patients with ADKPD need to keep in mind that abdominal imaging is part of the standard of care of these patients,” Stephen L. Seliger, MD, MS, told Healio/Nephrology.

In the observational, retrospective cohort study about the use of abdominal imaging in patients with APKD, 4,637 patients with ADPKD were observed for a mean of 21.29 months. Researchers found 46.5% of patients had CT scans, 25.06% had ultrasounds and 9.79% had MRIs. For patients with information on CKD stage, CT scans were more frequent among patients with later-stage ADPKD. Seliger said the researchers found that most scans occurred in the outpatient setting.

“The gold-standard measurement for kidney volume, which are essential risk stratification and for treatment initiation decision, is abdominal image with magnetic resonance imaging although other imagine modalities, like CT scan and ultrasound, may be appropriate given the individual patient situation,” he said. “If the imaging has not been performed in some period of time, the nephrologist should pay attention and should consider updating that imaging or obtain imagining if it hasn’t been performed recently or the results are not available.”