[Cardiovascular whole body MRI with parallel imaging].
OBJECTIVE
To create a whole-body cardiovascular MRI protocol with parallel imaging (iPAT).


METHODS
Twenty two persons participated in the whole body scan. Due to iPAT high resolution imaging of the heart could be performed. 3D contrast enhanced MR angiography (3D-CE-MRA) took only 62 s to cover the whole body at a spatial resolution of less than 1.4x1.0x1.5mm(3). Scan time for HASTE lung imaging could be reduced by the factor of 2 while maintaining the signal to noise ratio (SNR). Image quality was rated by 2 radiologists blinded to each other.


RESULTS
Mean scan time was 104 min on the standard system and less than 80 min on the new system. 75% of all MRA segments were rated good in terms of vessel conspicuity, more than 80% had no venous overlay. One case of distal occlusion of the anterior tibial artery and two cases of myocardial infarction were detected.


CONCLUSIONS
Parallel imaging offers the possibility of fast whole body imaging. A combination of morphologic and functional imaging can be performed within less than 80 min.
Kramer
H
H
Institut für klinische Radiologie, Klinikum Grosshadern der Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München. harald.kramer@med.uni-muenchen.de
Schoenberg
S O
SO
Nikolaou
K
K
Huber
A
A
Struwe
A
A
Winnik
E
E
Wintersperger
B
B
Dietrich
O
O
Kiefer
B
B
Reiser
M F
MF
D000328:Adult; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003287:Contrast Media; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015588:Observer Variation; D013997:Time Factors
D003287:Contrast Media