MR evaluation ex vivo and in vivo of a covered stent-graft for abdominal aortic aneurysms: ferromagnetism, heating, artifacts, and velocity mapping.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) safety was evaluated at 1.5 T in a covered nickel titanium stent-graft (Vanguard) used for endovascular treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs). Imaging artifacts were assessed on MRI with contrast-enhanced (CE) three-dimensional (3D) MR angiography (MRA) and spiral computed tomography (CT) in 10 patients as well as ex vivo. Velocity mapping was performed in the suprarenal aorta and femoral arteries in 14 patients before and after stent-graft placement. For comparison it was also performed in six healthy volunteers. No ferromagnetism or heating was detected. Metal artifacts caused minimal image distortion on MRI/MRA. The artifacts disturbed image evaluation on CT at the graft bifurcation and graft limb junction. No significant differences in mean flow were found in patients before and after stent-graft placement. Our study indicates that MRI at 1.5 T may be performed safely in patients with the (Vanguard) stent-graft. MRI/MRA provides diagnostic image information. Velocity mapping is not included in our routine protocol.
Department of Radiology, University Hospital Lund, Sweden. lena.engellau@drad.lu.se
L
L
Engellau
J
J
Olsrud
S
S
Brockstedt
U
U
Albrechtsson
L
L
Norgren
F
F
Ståhlberg
E M
EM
Larsson
D017544:Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery; D016477:Artifacts; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D001807:Blood Vessel Prosthesis; D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible; D003287:Contrast Media; D005260:Female; D006361:Heating / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D008280:Magnetics / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D015607:Stents; D014025:Titanium; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014654:Vascular Patency
D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible; D003287:Contrast Media; D014025:Titanium