High spatial resolution contrast-enhanced MR angiography of the supraaortic arteries using the quadrature body coil at 3.0T: a feasibility study.
To examine whether the the increased signal-to-noise (S/N) available at 3.0T would permit the use of the quadrature body coil for high spatial resolution contrast-enhanced (CE) MR angiography (MRA), and whether the large FOV that was used in our routine 1.5T protocol would also be feasible at 3.0T. In a prospective study, 43 patients and five volunteers were examined on a clinical whole-body 3.0T MR unit (Intera, Philips Medical Systems, Best, The Netherlands) after institutional review board approval and informed consent. Three-dimensional CE MRA (T1 gradient echo-sequence with TR/TE = 5.7/1.93 msec.; acquisition time, 1:54 min.) using randomly segmented central k-space ordering (CENTRA) was acquired with the quadrature body coil, using over a FOV of 350 mm. A high-image matrix of 432x432 yielded a non-zero filled voxel size of 0.81 mm x 0.81 mm x 1.0 mm (0.66 mm(3)). For quantitative analysis, contrast ratios (CR) between vessels (S) and signal in surrounding tissue (ST) were calculated [(S-ST)/(S+ST)]. For qualitative analysis, image quality and presence of artifacts were rated by two radiologists in consensus on a five-point scale (1=excellent to 5=nondiagnostic). Digital subtraction angiography (DSA) served as the standard of reference in patients with vascular disease. In the five volunteers, 1.5T CE MRA using a phased array neurovascular coil was available for intraindividual comparison. 3.0T CE MRA was successfully performed in 48/48 subjects (100%). Mean CR+/- SD were 0.76 (139.30/182.42) and 0.87 (235.18/270.14) at 3.0T and 1.5T respectively . Mean image quality was 3.82+/-0.86. Intraindividual comparison between 1.5T and 3.0T CE MRA in the volunteers revealed no significant difference in image quality (4.2+/-0.74 vs 4.6+/-0.80; p>0.05). Vascular disease was correctly identified in 13/13 patients with DSA correlation. CE MRA of the supraaortic arteries is feasible at 3.0T using a large FOV of 350 mm. The signal gain at 3.0T enables high spatial resolution contrast-enhanced MR angiography by using the built-in quadrature body coil only.
Willinek
Winfried A
WA
Department of Radiology, University of Bonn, Sigmund-Freud-Strasse 25, 53105, Bonn, Germany. winfried.willinek@ukb.uni-bonn.de
Bayer
Thomas
T
Gieseke
Jürgen
J
von Falkenhausen
Marcus
M
Sommer
Torsten
T
Hoogeveen
Romhild
R
Wilhelm
Kai
K
Urbach
Horst
H
Schild
Hans H
HH
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015901:Angiography, Digital Subtraction; D001011:Aorta; D002561:Cerebrovascular Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002941:Circle of Willis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003287:Contrast Media; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement
D003287:Contrast Media; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA