Evaluation of abdominal aortic aneurysm for stent-graft placement: comparison of gadolinium-enhanced MR angiography versus helical CT angiography and digital subtraction angiography.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether magnetic resonance (MR) angiography can be used alone to evaluate abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) for endovascular placement of stent grafts.


METHODS
Sixty-one patients with AAAs underwent gadolinium-enhanced MR angiography of the abdominal aorta and pelvic arteries. Measurements of the size and extent of the AAAs were compared with helical computed tomographic (CT) and digital subtraction angiographic measurements; 95% confidence intervals for the differences in the means were determined.


RESULTS
Because of the larger field of view, MR angiography was superior to CT angiography in assessing visceral iliac artery disease. Both modalities were equal in evaluating the proximal extent of the AAA (mean difference, -0.16 mm; 95% CI, -0.31, 0.64) and in measuring all aortic dimensions (e.g., mean difference in the proximal neck diameter, -0.74 mm; 95% CI, -0.98, -0.49). MR angiography was inferior to CT angiography in depicting accessory renal arteries (seven of 12) and in grading renal artery stenoses (sensitivity, 100% [95% CI, 0.90, 1.00]; specificity, 84% [95% CI, 0.74, 0.91]).


CONCLUSIONS
Gadolinium-enhanced MR angiography is a fast, reliable means of providing all the information relevant to the preoperative assessment of endovascular aortic stent-graft placement.
Thurnher
S A
SA
Department of Radiology, University Hospital, Vienna, Austria.
Dorffner
R
R
Thurnher
M M
MM
Winkelbauer
F W
FW
Kretschmer
G
G
Polterauer
P
P
Lammer
J
J
D000328:Adult; D015901:Angiography, Digital Subtraction; D001012:Aorta, Abdominal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D017544:Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D019917:Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007083:Iliac Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography; D008297:Male; D008638:Mesenteric Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D012077:Renal Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D015607:Stents; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed