title: Evaluation of coronary arterial stenoses using 2D magnetic resonance coronary angiography.
abstract: This study investigated the usefulness and limitations of magnetic resonance coronary angiography (MRCA). MRCA was performed with an electrocardiographically gated gradient echo sequence with k-space segmentation. Coronary angiography (CAG) was performed using a conventional system. We had three protocols. In protocol one, 160 consecutive patients (279 coronary arteries) who underwent initial CAG for diagnosing coronary artery disease were enrolled. Out of the 279 coronary arteries, 235 arteries (84.2%) were visualised with an image quality suitable for further analysis. In these 235 arteries, the validity for diagnosing over 75% arterial stenosis was 98%, and sensitivity and specificity was 79%. In protocol two, 48 stenoses were evaluated for restenosis after balloon angioplasty. The validity for diagnosing restenosis by MRCA was 93% in sensitivity and 33% in specificity. In protocol three, comprising 18 coronary arteries with total obstruction, the presence of collaterals was evaluated. The development of collateral circulation improved MRCA findings in the distal portion of obstructed coronary arteries. We conclude that MRCA provides useful information with acceptable sensitivity and specificity before balloon angioplasty. However, MRCA has a tendency to over-estimate restenosis after balloon angioplasty.