Comparison of gated and non-gated fast multislice black-blood carotid imaging using rapid extended coverage and inflow/outflow saturation techniques.
OBJECTIVE
To comparatively analyze two fast in vivo multislice black-blood carotid artery vessel wall imaging techniques with and without cardiac gating.


METHODS
Eight subjects with carotid artery atherosclerosis, and four healthy subjects were studied using two black-blood multislice techniques: rapid extended coverage double inversion recovery (REX-DIR), and inflow/outflow saturation band (IOSB) rapid acquisition with relaxation enhancement (RARE) multislice acquisitions. Quantitative, qualitative, and morphometric analyses were performed on images.


RESULTS
Gating produced significantly lower values for the REX-DIR sequence with respect to signal intensity in muscle and the carotid artery wall, whereas it had no effect on flow suppression compared to non-gated images. For the IOSB sequences, gating had no significant effect on signal intensity of muscle and the carotid artery wall, but worsened flow suppression. REX-DIR and IOSB sequences were statistically different with respect to signal intensity of muscle (with REX-DIR sequences having lower values), while no statistical significance was observed for flow suppression and wall delineation. A morphologic analysis of the vessel wall and lumen comparing REX-DIR gated, IOSB gated, REX-DIR non-gated, and IOSB non-gated sequences revealed no significant differences between the acquisition techniques tested.


CONCLUSIONS
Non-gated sequences may be used instead of gated sequences in atherosclerotic vessel wall imaging without compromising image quality. This may shorten examination time and improve patient comfort.
Mani
Venkatesh
V
Imaging Science Laboratories, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, New York 10029-6574, USA.
Itskovich
Vitalii V
VV
Aguiar
Silvia H
SH
Mizsei
Gabor
G
Aguinaldo
Juan Gilberto S
JG
Samber
Daniel D
DD
Macaluso
Frank M
FM
Fayad
Zahi A
ZA
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000465:Algorithms; D019412:Anatomy, Cross-Sectional / Q000379:methods; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000473:pathology*; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D004562:Electrocardiography / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods; D002537:Intracranial Arteriosclerosis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity