Fluoroscopically triggered contrast-enhanced three-dimensional MR angiography with elliptical centric view order: application to the renal arteries.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the reliability of obtaining arterial-phase, contrast-material-enhanced three-dimensional (3D) magnetic resonance (MR) angiograms of the renal arteries by using a technique that combines two-dimensional real-time MR fluoroscopy and a 3D MR angiographic acquisition with elliptical centric view order.


METHODS
Twenty-five consecutive patients suspected of having renal artery disease were evaluated with the fluoroscopically triggered technique by using a mean dose of 0.18 mmol/kg gadoteridol. Left renal vein suppression, inferior vena cava suppression, motion artifact, and image quality for depiction of the renal arteries were each evaluated on a five-point scale (1 = best). The findings were compared with those of another 25 consecutive patients who underwent conventional gadolinium-enhanced 3D MR angiography.


RESULTS
The fluoroscopically triggered technique produced 4.6 times less left renal vein enhancement than did the conventional method (P < .01). With the fluoroscopically triggered technique, visualization of the renal arteries was adequate for diagnosis in 24 patients (96%) and the overall result (score of 1-3 for all criteria) was of good quality in 22 patients (88%).


CONCLUSIONS
With this fluoroscopically triggered MR angiographic technique, high-quality, arterial phase, relatively motion immune angiograms can be routinely obtained.
Wilman
A H
AH
Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.
Riederer
S J
SJ
King
B F
BF
Debbins
J P
JP
Rossman
P J
PJ
Ehman
R L
RL
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001012:Aorta, Abdominal / Q000473:pathology; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D005471:Fluoroscopy; D005682:Gadolinium / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006571:Heterocyclic Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009942:Organometallic Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage; D012077:Renal Artery / Q000473:pathology*; D012078:Renal Artery Obstruction / Q000175:diagnosis; D012082:Renal Veins / Q000473:pathology; D014682:Vena Cava, Inferior / Q000473:pathology
D003287:Contrast Media; D006571:Heterocyclic Compounds; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; C062402:gadoteridol; D005682:Gadolinium