Interleaved gradient echo planar (IGEPI) and phase contrast CINE-PC flow measurements in the renal artery.
ECG-gated phase contrast (CINE-PC) flow measurements in the renal artery help to differentiate between low- and high-grade stenoses. Because conventional CINE-PC acquisitions with high temporal resolution require acquisition times of several minutes, respiratory motion results in a systematic overestimation of renal artery flow. With the use of an interleaved gradient echo-planar technique (IGEPI), total measurement times can be shortened to about 30 seconds, while a high spatial and temporal resolution is maintained. In this study, an IGEPI CINE-PC flow measurement pulse sequence with 16 gradient echoes was compared with a non-breathheld conventional CINE-PC technique. Flow-time curves were measured in volunteers and in patients with suspected renal artery stenosis. With IGEPI CINE-PC, mean flow velocity, vessel cross-sectional area, and mean blood flow were substantially lower by 90% to 25%. Contrast-enhanced 3D MR angiography was used to compare stenosis grading based on flow-time curve patterns with morphologic grading. With IGEPI CINE-PC, all high-grade stenoses (n = 5) were detected, whereas only 66% (n = 3) were found with conventional CINE-PC.
Forschungsschwerpunkt Radiologische Diagnostik und Therapie, Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum Heidelberg, Germany. m.bock@dkfz-heidelberg.de
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Bock
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Schoenberg
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Schad
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Knopp
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Essig
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van Kaick
D000328:Adult; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity / Q000502:physiology; D017352:Echo-Planar Imaging; D004562:Electrocardiography; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography / Q000379:methods; D019028:Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Cine; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012077:Renal Artery / Q000473:pathology* / Q000502:physiology; D012078:Renal Artery Obstruction / Q000175:diagnosis*; D013997:Time Factors