title: Superiority of prone position in free-breathing 3D coronary MRA in patients with coronary disease.
abstract: Navigator-gated and corrected 3D coronary MR angiography (MRA) allows submillimeter image acquisition during free breathing. However, cranial diaphragmatic drift and relative phase shifts of chest-wall motion are limiting factors for image quality and scanning duration. We hypothesized that image acquisition in the prone position would minimize artifacts related to chest-wall motion and suppress diaphragmatic drift. Twelve patients with radiographically-confirmed coronary artery disease and six healthy adult volunteers were studied in both the prone and the supine position during free-breathing navigator-gated and corrected 3D coronary MRA. Image quality and the diaphragmatic positions were objectively compared. In the prone position, there was a 36% improvement in signal-to-noise ratio (SNR; 15.5 +/- 2.7 vs. 11.4 +/- 2.6; P < 0.01) and a 34% improvement in CNR (12.5 +/- 3.3 vs. 9.3 +/- 2.5, P < 0.01). The prone position also resulted in a 17% improvement in coronary vessel definition (P < 0.01). Cranial end-expiratory diaphragmatic drift occurred less frequently in the prone position (23% +/- 17% vs. 40% +/- 26% supine; P <0.05), and navigator efficiency was higher. Prone coronary MRA results in improved SNR and CNR with enhanced coronary vessel definition. Cranial end-expiratory diaphragmatic drift also was reduced, and navigator efficiency was enhanced. When feasible, prone imaging is recommended for free-breathing coronary MRA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine (Cardiovascular Division), Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center & Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA. mstuber@caregroup.harvard.edu
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stuber
authors.forename: P G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Danias
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Botnar
authors.forename: D K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Sodickson
authors.forename: K V
authors.initials: KV
authors.lastname: Kissinger
authors.forename: W J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Manning
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016477:Artifacts; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016684:Prone Position; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity