Two-station bolus-chase MR angiography with a stationary table: a simple alternative to automated-table techniques.
OBJECTIVE
Our purpose was to evaluate a simple, two-station, bolus-chase, peripheral MR angiography technique that relies on manual patient translation using a plastic patient-transfer board.


METHODS
Twenty patients successfully completed both lower extremity MR angiography and digital subtraction angiography within a 3-month period. For MR angiography, patients were placed on the scanner table on a standard plastic patient-transfer board. We performed unenhanced and contrast-enhanced imaging at the level of the pelvis using a three-dimensional gradient-echo sequence (TR range/TE range, 3.8-4.6/1.3-1.8; flip angle range, 25-40 degrees ). Then patients were quickly pulled 350-400 mm using the transfer-board handles, and two subsequent acquisitions were obtained at the level of the thighs. For each modality, two radiologists who were unaware of correlative imaging results retrospectively scored all vessel segments as either greater than or equal to 50% stenosis or less than 50% stenosis, and interobserver agreement was determined. Using digital subtraction angiography as the standard of reference, we used consensus data to compute MR angiography sensitivity and specificity.


RESULTS
In the 261 vessel segments considered, MR angiography had a sensitivity of 75% (12/16) and a specificity of 98% (94/96) for the detection of stenosis greater than or equal to 50% from the aorta through the common femoral arteries. For the superficial and profunda femoral arteries through the popliteal arteries, these values were 97% (31/32) and 94% (34/36), respectively. MR angiography interobserver agreement for detection of stenosis was good (kappa = 0.68) for the aorta through the common femoral arteries and excellent (kappa = 0.88) for the superficial and profunda femoral arteries through the popliteal arteries. These values were comparable to those found for digital subtraction angiography (kappa = 0.67 and kappa = 0.88, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
Stationary-table MR angiography is a useful, simple strategy for lower extremity angiography in centers without a moving table.
Pandharipande
Pari V
PV
Department of Radiology, NYU Medical Center, 530 First Ave., New York, NY 10016, USA.
Lee
Vivian S
VS
Reuss
Peter M
PM
Charles
Hearns W
HW
Rosen
Robert J
RJ
Krinsky
Glenn A
GA
Weinreb
Jeffrey C
JC
Rofsky
Neil M
NM
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015901:Angiography, Digital Subtraction; D001157:Arterial Occlusive Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D007866:Leg / Q000098:blood supply*; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015588:Observer Variation; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D003287:Contrast Media; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA