title: Atherosclerotic disease: whole-body cardiovascular imaging with MR system with 32 receiver channels and total-body surface coil technology--initial clinical results.
abstract: In this prospective study, the feasibility of a comprehensive cardiovascular imaging protocol with a dedicated whole-body 1.5-T magnetic resonance (MR) imager with 32 receiver channels in 34 patients with peripheral arterial occlusive disease was evaluated. Informed consent and institutional review board approval were obtained. Three-dimensional MR angiographic data sets were acquired with adapted injection protocol. Cardiac functional imaging and delayed-enhancement imaging were performed, as were fluid-attenuated inversion-recovery imaging of the brain and time-of-flight MR angiography of the intracranial blood vessels. Sensitivity and specificity for depiction of significant vascular stenosis (> 70%) were 96%, with conventional digital subtraction angiography as the standard. Substantial microangiopathic tissue alterations (n = 4) and/or cerebral infarction (n = 4) were diagnosed in seven patients. In seven patients, subendocardial or transmural delayed enhancement was detected in corresponding regions, indicating prior myocardial infarction. Previously unknown findings diagnosed with MR imaging required midterm follow-up or therapy in 24 patients, whereas change of therapy or immediate treatment was necessary in three. For patients suspected of having systemic atherosclerotic disease, comprehensive risk assessment is feasible within 30 minutes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Eberhard-Karls-University, Hoppe-Seyler-Strasse 3, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany. michael.fenchel@med.uni-tuebingen.de
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fenchel
authors.forename: Albertus M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Scheule
authors.forename: Norbert I
authors.initials: NI
authors.lastname: Stauder
authors.forename: Ulrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Kramer
authors.forename: Katrin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tomaschko
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nägele
authors.forename: Christiane
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bretschneider
authors.forename: Heinz-Peter
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Schlemmer
authors.forename: Claus D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Claussen
authors.forename: Stephan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Miller
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015901:Angiography, Digital Subtraction; D001157:Arterial Occlusive Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016491:Peripheral Vascular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity