Quantitative contrast enhanced magnetic resonance imaging for the evaluation of peripheral arterial disease: a comparative study versus standard digital angiography.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the accuracy of semiautomated analysis of contrast enhanced magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) in patients who have undergone standard angiographic evaluation for peripheral vascular disease (PVD).


BACKGROUND
Magnetic resonance angiography is an important tool for evaluating PVD. Although this technique is both safe and noninvasive, the accuracy and reproducibility of quantitative measurements of disease severity using MRA in the clinical setting have not been fully investigated.


METHODS
43 lesions in 13 patients who underwent both MRA and digital subtraction angiography (DSA) of iliac and common femoral arteries within 6 months were analyzed using quantitative magnetic resonance angiography (QMRA) and quantitative vascular analysis (QVA). Analysis was repeated by a second operator and by the same operator in approximately 1 month time.


RESULTS
QMRA underestimated percent diameter stenosis (%DS) compared to measurements made with QVA by 2.47%. Limits of agreement between the two methods were +/- 9.14%. Interobserver variability in measurements of %DS were +/- 12.58% for QMRA and +/- 10.04% for QVA. Intraobserver variability of %DS for QMRA was +/- 4.6% and for QVA was +/- 8.46%.


CONCLUSIONS
QMRA displays a high level of agreement to QVA when used to determine stenosis severity in iliac and common femoral arteries. Similar levels of interobserver and intraobserver variability are present with each method. Overall, QMRA represents a useful method to quantify severity of PVD.
Pavlovic
Chris
C
Division of Cardiology and Cardiovascular Imaging Core Laboratory, University of Florida, Shands Jacksonville, 655 West Eighth Street, 5th Floor ACC, Jacksonville, FL 32209, USA.
Futamatsu
Hideki
H
Angiolillo
Dominick J
DJ
Guzman
Luis A
LA
Wilke
Norbert
N
Siragusa
Daniel
D
Wludyka
Peter
P
Percy
Robert
R
Northrup
Martin
M
Bass
Theodore A
TA
Costa
Marco A
MA
D000465:Algorithms; D015901:Angiography, Digital Subtraction; D001157:Arterial Occlusive Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D003251:Constriction, Pathologic; D003287:Contrast Media; D005263:Femoral Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007083:Iliac Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D016014:Linear Models; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D015588:Observer Variation; D016491:Peripheral Vascular Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012107:Research Design; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012984:Software
D003287:Contrast Media