Equilibrium-phase MR angiography of the aortoiliac and renal arteries using a blood pool contrast agent.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to determine the diagnostic usefulness of a new blood pool contrast agent, NC100150, for assessing the aortoiliac and renal arteries.


METHODS
Twenty patients with hemodynamically significant stenosis (> or =50% of luminal diameter) of the iliac or renal arteries or an aortic aneurysm documented by digital subtraction angiography underwent MR angiography at 1.5 T after administration of NC100150. Three-dimensional MR angiographic data sets were collected ill the equilibrium phase. In a prospective analysis, each vascular segment (16 segments per arterial tree) was evaluated.


RESULTS
All patients tolerated the NC100150 administration well. Mean contrast-to-noise ratios of the vascular data collected in the equilibrium phase of NC100150 was 3.3+/-15.9. Compared with digital subtraction angiography, the sensitivity and specificity of MR angiography for the renal arteries were 82% and 98%, respectively; for the common iliac arteries, 86% and 97%, respectively; for the external iliac arteries, 80% and 100%, respectively; and for the internal iliac arteries, 71% and 977, respectively. All 83 aneurysmal changes revealed by digital subtraction angiograpy of the aortoiliac arteries were well displayed on the MR angiographic data sets.


CONCLUSIONS
Equilibrium-phase NC 00150-enhanced three-dimensional MR angiography shows high specificity when evaluating the abdominal and pelvic vascular systems, but the attendant venous overlap can limit the assessment of stenosis in renal and pelvic arterial segments.
Weishaupt
D
D
Institute of Diagnostic Radiology, University Hospital Zurich, Switzerland.
Rühm
S G
SG
Binkert
C A
CA
Schmidt
M
M
Patak
M A
MA
Steybe
F
F
McGill
S
S
Debatin
J F
JF
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015901:Angiography, Digital Subtraction; D001012:Aorta, Abdominal / Q000473:pathology*; D001157:Arterial Occlusive Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003287:Contrast Media; D003911:Dextrans; D005260:Female; D052203:Ferrosoferric Oxide; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D058185:Magnetite Nanoparticles; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010087:Oxides; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012077:Renal Artery / Q000473:pathology*
D003287:Contrast Media; D003911:Dextrans; D058185:Magnetite Nanoparticles; D010087:Oxides; C097921:ferumoxtran-10; D007501:Iron; D052203:Ferrosoferric Oxide