MRI of coronary vessel walls using radial k-space sampling and steady-state free precession imaging.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of our study was to investigate the impact of radial k-space sampling and steady-state free precession (SSFP) imaging on image quality in MRI of coronary vessel walls.


METHODS
Eleven subjects were examined on a 1.5-T MR system using three high-resolution navigator-gated and cardiac-triggered 3D black blood sequences (cartesian gradient-echo [GRE], radial GRE, and radial SSFP) with identical spatial resolution (0.9 x 0.9 x 2.4 mm3). The signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR), vessel wall sharpness, and motion artifacts were analyzed.


RESULTS
The mean SNR and CNR of the coronary vessel wall were improved using radial imaging and were best using radial k-space sampling combined with SSFP imaging. Vessel border definition was similar for all three sequences. Radial k-space sampling was found to be less sensitive to motion. Consistently good image quality was seen with the radial GRE sequence.


CONCLUSIONS
Radial k-space sampling in MRI of coronary vessel walls resulted in fewer motion artifacts and improved SNR and CNR. The use of SSFP imaging, however, did not result in improved coronary vessel wall visualization.
Katoh
Marcus
M
Department of Diagnostic Radiology, RWTH Aachen University Hospital, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52057 Aachen, Germany. katoh@rad.rwth-aachen.de
Spuentrup
Elmar
E
Buecker
Arno
A
Schaeffter
Tobias
T
Stuber
Matthias
M
Günther
Rolf W
RW
Botnar
Rene M
RM
D000328:Adult; D016477:Artifacts; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male