Supradiaphragmatic Origin of the Renal Artery; Frequency on Contrast-enhanced MR Imaging

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate extremely rare cases of supradiaphragmatic origin of the renal artery, with magnetic resonance (MR) imaging findings.

Methods: The study included 9 patients diagnosed with supra-diaphragmatic originating renal artery between 2010 and 2017. The patients were 7 females and 2 males with a mean age of 58.25 years (range, 41-71 years). MR imaging was applied to all patients.

Results: In 2 patients, lumen loss was of a moderate degree, and mild in 3 patients. Renal artery stenosis was not observed in the remaining 4 patients. None of the patients had advanced luminal stenosis. The distance of the renal arteries to the diaphragmatic crus was 24 mm at the longest and 8 mm at the shortest. Congenital anomaly was found in 6 patients. Of the 9 patients, 7 had concomitant hypertension, and 2 had no history of hypertension.

Conclusions: The anomaly of supradiaphragmatic origin of the renal artery is rare but may be associated with renal artery stenosis, which may then result in hypertension. The clinician should investigate renal artery origin anomalies and renal artery compression syndrome in hypertensive cases where the cause cannot be explained.