MRA of intracranial aneurysm models: a comparison of contrast-enhanced three-dimensional MRA with time-of-flight MRA.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of our study was to compare contrast-enhanced 3D MR angiography (MRA) using ultrafast spoiled gradient-recalled acquisition in the steady state (SPGR) with 2D and 3D time-of-flight (TOF) MRA for visualization of intracranial lateral saccular aneurysm models.


METHODS
We used lateral saccular aneurysm models with a height of 10 mm and neck sizes of 2.5 and 10 mm. Imaging was performed using a 1.5 T MR system with a head coil. Contrast-enhanced 3D MR angiograms were obtained using 3D ultrafast SPGR sequence with and without the MR Smartprep technique. Two-dimensional and 3D TOF MR angiograms were also obtained.


RESULTS
Contrast-enhanced multiphase 3D MR angiograms taken every 5 s after injection of contrast medium proved superior to the other MRA techniques for delineating lateral saccular aneurysm models. Contrast-enhanced 3D MRA images taken with inadequate delay after MR Smartprep trigger showed poor visualization of the aneurysm model.


CONCLUSIONS
Use of contrast-enhanced multiphase 3D MRA with ultrafast SPGR with shorter TR and TE resulted in clear images of the lateral saccular aneurysm model.
Isoda
H
H
Department of Radiology, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Japan. hisoda@hama-med.ac.jp
Takehara
Y
Y
Isogai
S
S
Masunaga
H
H
Takeda
H
H
Nozaki
A
A
Sakahara
H
H
D003287:Contrast Media; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D002532:Intracranial Aneurysm / Q000175:diagnosis*; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D008959:Models, Neurological; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D003287:Contrast Media; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA