Peripheral arterial disease. Contrast-enhanced 3D MR angiography of the lower leg and foot compared with conventional angiography.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether contrast-enhanced 3D MR angiography (CE MRA) could replace digital subtraction angiography (DSA) for the evaluation of atherosclerotic peripheral vascular disease of the lower leg and foot.


METHODS
Thirty-five patients with symptoms of atherosclerotic disease of the leg were examined prospectively with CE MRA of the foot and the lower legs as well as with DSA from the aorta to the pedal arches. The MRA technique was focused on optimal imaging of the arteries of the foot.


RESULTS
The agreement between CE MRA and DSA for grading of stenosis was moderate to good (weighted kappa-values 0.48-0.80). The sensitivity of CE MRA for detection of significant stenosis (> or = 50%) was 92% and the specificity was 64% with DSA as gold standard.


CONCLUSIONS
CE MRA is a fairly accurate method for the demonstration of atherosclerotic disease below the knee including the pedal arches. It can replace DSA for the assessment of distal arteries in patients with impaired renal function. However, image quality and resolution still needs to be improved before CE MRA can become the method of choice in all patients.
Cronberg
C N
CN
Center for Medical Imaging and Physiology, University Hospital, Lund, Sweden.
Sjöberg
S
S
Albrechtsson
U
U
Leander
P
P
Lindh
M
M
Norgren
L
L
Danielsson
P
P
Sonesson
B
B
Larsson
E-M
EM
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015901:Angiography, Digital Subtraction; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003287:Contrast Media; D005260:Female; D005528:Foot / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D007866:Leg / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016491:Peripheral Vascular Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D003287:Contrast Media