2D inflow MR angiography in severe chronic leg ischemia.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to compare 2D inflow MR angiography (MRA) with selective X-ray angiography (XRA) in patients with severe chronic leg ischemia.


METHODS
In a blinded prospective study, 2D inflow MRA and XRA were compared with regard to evaluation of the arteries distal to the knee in 24 patients (median age 72 years) with severe ischemia; 23 of them had either rest pain or tissue loss. Statistics were calculated with XRA as the reference method.


RESULTS
The interpretations of 2D inflow MRA and XRA showed moderate agreement in the calf arteries but poor agreement in the foot arteries. Of the discrepancies, two-thirds were observer-related and only one-third method-related. Of all the comparable arteries, 9% showed method-related differences between the two methods. An assessment of MRA using only maximum intensity projections (MIP) resulted in 19% of findings being judged inconclusive whereas all the arteries could be classified when the cross-sectional images were studied on the viewing console.


CONCLUSIONS
The agreement between MRA and XRA was good in the calf but questionable in the foot.
Eklöf
H
H
Department of Radiology, University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden.
Smedby
O
O
Ljungman
C
C
Karacagil
S
S
Bergqvist
D
D
Ahlström
H
H
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000792:Angiography; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007511:Ischemia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D007866:Leg / Q000098:blood supply*; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015588:Observer Variation; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity