[Magnetic resonance angiography of stents].
OBJECTIVE
To understand the behavior of stents during contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography (MRA).


METHODS
Seven different types of stents are explored in vitro with spin echo (SE) T2 sequence and MRA sequences using classification of the intra-prothesis signal. Six patients with 11 different proximal stents are studied by Gadolinium enhanced MRA with the same classification.


RESULTS
Stent material is not the only determinant of behavior. In this way, one stainless steel stent produced less intra-luminal hyposignal than a nitinol device. Nevertheless, only a nitinol stent did not alter the intra-prothesis signal and allowed an appreciation of patency, despite a decrease of diameter and presence of edge artifacts.


CONCLUSIONS
Even if stent compatibility is well known with MRI, even with Gadolinium, cannot be used alone to depict stenosis or diameter reduction. Even patency based on the presence of a constant signal, cannot be confirmed routinely with confidence: indeed, only a single stent does not modify intra-arterial signal.
Drevet
D
D
Service de radiologie, Clinique Mutualiste Eugène André, Lyon.
Beck
F
F
Streichenberger
T
T
Liebgott
M
M
Russier
S
S
Célarier
C
C
Champion
M
M
Joffre
P
P
D000368:Aged; D000497:Alloys; D016477:Artifacts; D001807:Blood Vessel Prosthesis; D003287:Contrast Media; D004867:Equipment Design; D005682:Gadolinium; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography / Q000145:classification / Q000379:methods; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D013193:Stainless Steel; D015607:Stents; D014654:Vascular Patency
D000497:Alloys; D003287:Contrast Media; D013193:Stainless Steel; C013616:nitinol; D005682:Gadolinium