Dynamic contrast-enhanced subtraction MR angiography of the lower extremities: initial evaluation with a multisection two-dimensional time-of-flight sequence.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the clinical feasibility of a contrast material--enhanced two-dimensional (2D) magnetic resonance (MR) angiographic sequence in lower extremity arteries.


METHODS
Four healthy volunteers and 12 patients underwent dynamic contrast-enhanced MR angiography; all patients also underwent conventional angiography. A 2D multisection gradient-echo sequence with image subtraction was used for all MR imaging examinations.


RESULTS
Oblique-coronal contrast-enhanced MR angiography was completed in less than 4 minutes, with a 256 x 512 matrix. The arterial contrast enhancement ratio was 2.0 +/- 0.8 (standard deviation), and the pre- and post-contrast contrast-to-noise ratios were 2.1 +/- 13.8 and 46.2 +/- 18.7, respectively. The sensitivity for MR angiography was 100% and specificity was 69% for distinction of vessels with greater than 50% stenoses from normal or mildly stenotic vessels.


CONCLUSIONS
Dynamic contrast-enhanced 2D MR angiography is capable of increasing intraarterial signal intensity and depicting small vessel anatomy of the lower extremities over a large field of view in a short imaging time.
Adamis
M K
MK
Department of Radiology, Beth Israel Hospital, Boston, MA 02215, USA.
Li
W
W
Wielopolski
P A
PA
Kim
D
D
Sax
E J
EJ
Kent
K C
KC
Edelman
R R
RR
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000792:Angiography; D001157:Arterial Occlusive Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D001158:Arteries; D003251:Constriction, Pathologic / Q000175:diagnosis; D003287:Contrast Media; D004338:Drug Combinations; D017352:Echo-Planar Imaging; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D005682:Gadolinium; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA; D006571:Heterocyclic Compounds; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D007866:Leg / Q000098:blood supply*; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008536:Meglumine; D008875:Middle Aged; D008961:Models, Structural; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D004369:Pentetic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013382:Subtraction Technique
D003287:Contrast Media; D004338:Drug Combinations; D006571:Heterocyclic Compounds; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; C062402:gadoteridol; D008536:Meglumine; D004369:Pentetic Acid; D005682:Gadolinium; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA