Preliminary report on in vivo coronary MRA at 3 Tesla in humans.
Current limitations of coronary magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) include a suboptimal signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), which limits spatial resolution and the ability to visualize distal and branch vessel coronary segments. Improved SNR is expected at higher field strengths, which may provide improved spatial resolution. However, a number of potential adverse effects on image quality have been reported at higher field strengths. The limited availability of high-field systems equipped with cardiac-specific hardware and software has previously precluded successful in vivo human high-field coronary MRA data acquisition. In the present study we investigated the feasibility of human coronary MRA at 3.0 T in vivo. The first results obtained in nine healthy adult subjects are presented.
Stuber
Matthias
M
Department of Medicine (Cardiovascular Division), Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, USA. mstuber@caregroup.harvard.edu
Botnar
René M
RM
Fischer
Stefan E
SE
Lamerichs
Rolf
R
Smink
Jouke
J
Harvey
Paul
P
Manning
Warren J
WJ
D000328:Adult; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male