[Phase-contrast MR angiography of the lower extremity. Comparison of methods and clinical application].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate whether phase-contrast MRA is a clinically suited approach to examine arteries of the pelvis and lower extremities.


METHODS
The study was divided into two parts, a volunteer study and patient study. Three MRA techniques-2D TOF with venous saturation, 3D magnitude contrast and 2D phase contrast with ECG triggering-were intraindividually compared in 15 volunteers and evaluated by three blinded readers. Subsequently, a total of 230 vessel segments of 45 MRA studies using ECG-triggered phase contrast were compared with intraarterial DSA. All vessel segments were scored by three blinded readers using a five-point scale with DSA serving as the gold standard.


RESULTS
ECG-triggered phase contrast provided better image quality than the other MRA techniques as assessed by the Friedman test. Clinical studies demonstrated a significant correlation of DSA and MRA as assessed by the Spearman correlation and kappa statistics for individual readers.


CONCLUSIONS
MRA of the pelvis and lower extremities may be performed with 2D ECG-triggered phase-contrast MRA within a reasonable time frame (< 30 min). MRA slabs provide orientation similar to that with DSA projections and good to very good correlation of vessel pathology as shown by kappa statistics.
Reimer
P
P
Institut für Klinische Radiologie, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität, Münster.
Wilhelm
M
M
Lentschig
M
M
Wörtler
K
K
Boettger
U
U
Heinecke
A
A
Boos
M
M
Allkemper
T
T
Rummeny
E J
EJ
Peters
P E
PE
D015901:Angiography, Digital Subtraction; D001157:Arterial Occlusive Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D001158:Arteries / Q000473:pathology; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007511:Ischemia / Q000175:diagnosis*; D007866:Leg / Q000098:blood supply*; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D012015:Reference Standards; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity