[Comparison of contrast-enhanced MR angiography of the aortoiliac vessels using a 1.0 molar contrast agent at 1.0 T with intra-arterial digital subtraction angiography].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of contrast-enhanced MR angiography (CE-MRA) using a 1.0 molar contrast agent at 1.0 T for the diagnosis of abdominal aortic aneurysms and stenoses of renal or iliac arteries in comparison to intraarterial digital subtraction angiography (DSA).


METHODS
A total of 19 patients with the suspicion of abdominal aortic aneurysm or stenosis of renal or iliac arteries were examined with CE-MRA at 1.0 T. Intra-arterial DSA served as reference in all cases. After test bolus tracking, 10 or 8 ml of the 1.0 molar contrast agent Gadobutrol corresponding to a dose of 0.1 - 0.15 mmol/kg bw were injected and imaging performed using a FLASH-3D sequence. To evaluate the interobserver-variability, the blinded images were analyzed by two radiologists. Besides the rating of overall image quality on a 4-point-scale, the images were evaluated for aneurysms and arteriosclerotic lesions with a stenosis of < 50 % or > 50 % or occlusion.


RESULTS
A total of 144 segments were analyzed. The mean value of the CE-MRA image quality was 3.4 on a 4-point-scale. The sensitivity of CE-MRA in depicting relevant pathological findings was 96 % and the specificity 99 %. The positive predictive value was 96 % and the negative predictive value 99 %. Inter-observer variability was low with a kappa value of 0.82.


CONCLUSIONS
CE-MRA using a 1.0 molar contrast agent at 1.0 T enables an excellent diagnosis or exclusion of pathologies of the aortoiliac vessels.
Mohrs
O K
OK
Klinik und Poliklinik für Radiologie, Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz.
Oberholzer
K
K
Krummenauer
F
F
Bernhard
S
S
Kalden
P
P
Neufang
A
A
Thelen
M
M
Kreitner
K-F
KF
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015901:Angiography, Digital Subtraction / Q000379:methods*; D001012:Aorta, Abdominal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D017544:Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003287:Contrast Media; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007083:Iliac Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012078:Renal Artery Obstruction / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D003287:Contrast Media