Actual role of unenhanced magnetic resonance angiography (mra tof 3d) in the study of stenosis and occlusion of extracranial carotid artery.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy, sensitivity and specificity of MRA (3D TOF) in comparison to contrast-enhanced MRA using DSA as the gold standard in the study of steno-occlusive disease of the internal carotid artery, in order to determine if this technique still has a diagnostic value.


METHODS
Three radiologists blindly and independently evaluated either the unenhanced MRA, CE MRA, or DSA images of 23 consecutive patients, assessing the stenosis based on a NASCET five-class classification.


RESULTS
The sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic accuracy of CE MRA and unenhanced MRA were 100% and 100%, 100% and 95.5% and 100% and 93.2%, respectively. These differences were not statistically significant.


CONCLUSIONS
Unenhanced MRA should be still considered a valid alternative for studying the extracranial section of the internal carotid arteries especially in patients who refuse or whose laboratory results exclude the use of contrast medium or in patients in whom continuous monitoring of a clinical condition is required but a repeated and/or frequent use of contrast medium is not possible.
Scarabino
Tommaso
T
Istituto di Radiologia, Università A. Avogadro, Novara, Italy.
Fossaceca
Rita
R
Carra
Laura
L
Florio
Francesco
F
Marano
Giuseppe
G
Carriero
Alessandro
A
D000368:Aged; D015901:Angiography, Digital Subtraction; D002343:Carotid Artery, Internal; D016893:Carotid Stenosis / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D016894:Endarterectomy, Carotid; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013997:Time Factors
D003287:Contrast Media