Detection of coronary artery stenoses using breath-hold magnetic resonance coronary angiography. Comparison with conventional x-ray angiography.
OBJECTIVE
To detect coronary artery stenoses, we compare breath-hold magnetic resonance coronary angiography (MRCA) to conventional coronary angiography (CA).


METHODS
Sixty-five patients with suspected coronary artery disease underwent MRCA and CA within one week. MRCA examination was performed by using the two-dimensional (2D) breath-hold technique with a fast spoil gradient-echo sequence/spiral. Each imaging sequence was obtained within one breath-hold in expiration (14 seconds of apnoea). The assessment of coronary artery stenoses on magnetic resonance (MR) angiograms was independently performed by two blinded readers and compared to conventional CA images.


RESULTS
Three hundred and ninety segments were evaluated by the two imaging techniques. MRCA correctly detected 76 of 88 (86%) stenoses, and recognized 242 of 302 (80%) not affected segments. The Pearson correlation coefficient between MRCA and CA in assessing coronary narrowings was very high: r = 0.85. Despite this the mean difference was 4.5 with a standard error of estimate of 0.21, indicating that MRCA slightly overestimates the degree of stenoses.


CONCLUSIONS
Our study showed that 2D breath-hold MRCA is an accurate technique in displaying and quantifying the most significant stenoses in the proximal and middle segments of the coronary arteries.
Gaudio
C
C
Department of Cardiology, La Sapienza University of Rome - Rome (Italy).
Tanzilli
G
G
Vittore
A
A
Arca
M
M
Barillà
F
F
Di Michele
S
S
Minardi
G
G
Fedele
F
F
Lombardi
M
M
Donato
L
L
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017023:Coronary Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D023921:Coronary Stenosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D005260:Female; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013997:Time Factors