Glomerular Filtration Rate and Renal Plasma Flow Measurement from DCE-MRI with Population- Arterial Input Function and a One-Compartment Model

Motivation: DCE-MRI is promising for measuring single-kidney GFR and RPF, but the complex post-processing poses challenges to its clinical application. Goal(s): We introduce a streamlined method that combines population arterial input function (pAIF) with a whole-kidney model to simplify eGFR and RPF calculations. Approach: In a prospective, single-center study in 43 patients with renal masses undergoing 51 MRIs, we evaluated the correlation and agreement of eGFR and RPF measurements from pAIF against traditional individual AIF (iAIF) methods and reference serum-derived GFR and ASL-derived RPF. Results: Our pAIF method demonstrates superior correlation and agreement with clinical reference values compared to iAIF. Impact: Noninvasive assessment of single-kidney function is crucial for surgical planning and guiding appropriate treatment. The combination of pAIF and whole-kidney model offers a promising and streamlined method for evaluating single-kidney function by providing key parameters such as eGFR and RPF.