Renal perfusion can be quantitatively assessed by multiple magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) methods, including dynamic contrast enhanced (DCE), arterial spin labeling (ASL), and diffusion‐weighted imaging with intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) analysis. In this review we summarize the advances in the field of renal‐perfusion MRI over the past 5 years. The review starts with a brief introduction of relevant MRI methods, followed by a discussion of recent technical developments. In the main section of the review, we examine the clinical and preclinical applications for three disease populations: chronic kidney disease, renal transplant, and renal tumors. The DCE method has been routinely used for assessing renal tumors but not other renal diseases. As a noncontrast alternative, ASL was extensively explored in both preclinical and clinical applications and showed much promise. Protocol standardization for the methods is desperately needed, and then large‐scale clinical trials for the methods can be initiated prior to their broad clinical use.
Level of Evidence: 5
Technical Efficacy: Stage 2
J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2019. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2020;52:369–379.