Three-dimensional MRI of coronary arteries using an intravascular contrast agent.
To assess the effectiveness of an intravascular contrast agent, MS-325, for enhancing the vascular signal in coronary MR angiograms, six minipigs were studied using a three-dimensional, gradient-echo sequence with retrospective respiratory gating. To suppress the myocardial signal, preparatory RF pulses were applied before data acquisition. With the administration of MS-325, the blood signal-to-noise ratio increased by 97-276%, depending on the region of interest in which the blood signal was measured and the precontrast imaging sequence structures. The blood/myocardium contrast-to-noise ratio also significantly increased. High-resolution images (0.58 x 0.58 x 1 mm3) obtained from postmortem pig hearts demonstrated the potential delineation of coronary arteries with MS-325. In conclusion, this study supports further evaluation of the utility of MS-325 in improving coronary MR angiography in humans.
Li
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D
Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110, USA.
Dolan
R P
RP
Walovitch
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RC
Lauffer
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RB
D000818:Animals; D003287:Contrast Media; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D005682:Gadolinium; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000295:instrumentation*; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000295:instrumentation*; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D013552:Swine; D013556:Swine, Miniature
D003287:Contrast Media; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D005682:Gadolinium; C109932:gadofosveset trisodium