title: Single-dose breath-hold gadolinium-enhanced three-dimensional MR angiography of the renal arteries.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the quality of single-dose breath-hold three-dimensional (3D) magnetic resonance (MR) angiography of the renal arteries optimized with a 1-mL test bolus timing examination.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three-dimensional spoiled gradient-echo imaging (3.8-4.2/1.3-1.7 [repetition time msec/echo time msec], 25 degrees-40 degrees flip angle) was performed in 60 patients after administration of gadopentetate dimeglumine (average dose, 0.11 mmol/kg). Synchronization of contrast material administration with data acquisition was achieved with a 1-mL test dose of contrast material to estimate patient circulation parameters. Image quality was assessed by using contrast-to-noise (CNR), relative vascular enhancement, and venous-to-arterial enhancement ratios and subjective scoring of arterial and venous enhancement. The effect of the contrast material injection rate and the influence of breath holding during the timing examination also were examined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, of 60 studies, 58 were diagnostic and 56 demonstrated excellent arterial enhancement. Venous enhancement was seen in eight studies. The average aortic relative vascular enhancement (+/- SD) was 14.6 +/- 5.9, with an aorta-to-inferior vena cava (IVC) CNR of 69.7 +/- 43.9. The IVC-to-aorta venous-to-arterial enhancement ratio averaged 0.08 +/- 0.16. There was no significant difference in image quality based on injection rates or the performance of breath holding during the timing examination (P > .1).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Breath-hold gadolinium-enhanced renal MR angiography free of venous enhancement can be performed consistently and reliably with 20 mL of contrast material when studies are synchronized to patient circulation time by using a timing examination.
authors: Department of Radiology, New York University Medical Center, New York, NY 10016, USA.
authors: V S
authors: VS
authors: Lee
authors: N M
authors: NM
authors: Rofsky
authors: G A
authors: GA
authors: Krinsky
authors: D H
authors: DH
authors: Stemerman
authors: J C
authors: JC
authors: Weinreb
mesh_terms: D003287:Contrast Media / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012077:Renal Artery / Q000473:pathology*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA