Peripheral vascular disease evaluated with reduced-dose gadolinium-enhanced MR angiography.
OBJECTIVE
To demonstrate the utility of low-dose gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance (MR) angiography of two consecutive anatomic areas for assessment of peripheral vascular disease.


METHODS
Fifteen patients underwent gadolinium-enhanced MR angiography for evaluation of lower extremity peripheral vascular disease after conventional digital subtraction angiography (DSA). MR angiography was performed with three-dimensional coronal gradient-echo acquisitions before and during administration of gadopentetate dimeglumine. Two separate, contiguous areas were studied with separate doses of 0.075 and 0.1 mmol/kg gadopentetate dimeglumine. MR angiography findings were compared with DSA findings; DSA was the standard of reference. Treatment options were determined first with MR angiograms and then with DSA images.


RESULTS
For distinguishing greater than 50% stenosis from 50% or less stenosis, gadolinium-enhanced MR angiography yielded a sensitivity of 97%, a specificity of 96%, and an accuracy of 97%. In 146 (97%) of 150 anatomic segments, there was essential or total agreement on treatments determined with MR angiography and DSA. In two cases (one case of vascular stent placement and one case of surgical anastomosis), extent of disease was overestimated with MR angiography. The MR study of one infrapopliteal area was insufficient for evaluation.


CONCLUSIONS
Accurate gadolinium-enhanced MR angiography of multiple peripheral vascular areas of the lower extremities can be performed in most patients with less than 0.2 mmol/kg contrast material.
Rofsky
N M
NM
Department of Radiology, New York University Medical Center, NY 10016, USA.
Johnson
G
G
Adelman
M A
MA
Rosen
R J
RJ
Krinsky
G A
GA
Weinreb
J C
JC
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015901:Angiography, Digital Subtraction; D001157:Arterial Occlusive Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy; D003287:Contrast Media; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005260:Female; D005682:Gadolinium; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg / Q000098:blood supply*; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography; D008297:Male; D008536:Meglumine; D008875:Middle Aged; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D004369:Pentetic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D003287:Contrast Media; D004338:Drug Combinations; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D008536:Meglumine; D004369:Pentetic Acid; D005682:Gadolinium; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA