title: High-resolution carotid artery MRA. Comparison with fast dynamic acquistion and duplex ultrasound scanning.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether the diagnostic accuracy of contrast-enhanced MR angiography (CE-MRA) of the carotid arteries is improved by using a slow-injection, high-resolution technique.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 22 patients suspected to have internal carotid artery (ICA) stenosis at duplex ultrasound scanning (DUS), CE-MRA was performed both with a fast, dynamic (8 s/phase) and with a slower, high-resolution technique (scan time 2:20 min).
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was conformity between the CE-MRA techniques regarding the degree of stenosis in 34/40 extracranial ICAs. In 3/6 discrepant cases, short occlusions were seen with the fast dynamic technique, whereas both the high-resolution CE-MRA technique and DUS showed patent vessels. There was an overall tendency toward higher stenosis grading with the dynamic technique. Overlying veins could be removed on a workstation in all high-resolution examinations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The high-resolution carotid CE-MRA technique proposed herein seems to improve the diagnostic accuracy, at least for differentiation between high-grade stenoses and occlusions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Radiology, University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wikström
authors.forename: L O
authors.initials: LO
authors.lastname: Johansson
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rossitti
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Karacagil
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ahlström
mesh_terms: D002343:Carotid Artery, Internal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D016893:Carotid Stenosis / Q000175:diagnosis; D003287:Contrast Media; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D018616:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Duplex
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media