Intracranial contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance venography with 6.4-fold sensitivity encoding at 1.5 and 3.0 Tesla.
OBJECTIVE
To prospectively compare vessel conspicuity and diagnostic image quality between three-dimensional intracranial contrast-enhanced MR venography acquired at 1.5 Tesla (T) and 3.0T, with 6.4-fold sensitivity encoding.


METHODS
Ten healthy volunteers were imaged on 1.5T and 3.0T MR scanners using eight-element head coil arrays. The intracranial venous vasculature was divided into five groups for evaluation based on vessel size and anatomical location. Two radiologists independently assessed vessel conspicuity, level of artifacts, and diagnostic image quality. Informed consent was obtained, and the study was approved by the institutional review board.


RESULTS
With the exception of large cerebral sinuses where 1.5T and 3.0T results were rated as equivalent, 3.0T images demonstrated superior vessel continuity, sharpness, and signal contrast to background tissue than 1.5T for all other intracranial venous vasculature (P < 0.01). No statistical significance in overall image quality was found between 1.5T and 3.0T venograms, and all data sets were deemed sufficient for diagnostic interpretation.


CONCLUSIONS
Whole brain contrast-enhanced venography with 6.4-fold sensitivity encoding is robust and has the potential to become the method of choice for fast visualization of the intracranial venous vasculature. At 3.0T, demonstration of small cerebral vessels is superior to 1.5T.
Hu
Houchun H
HH
University of Southern California, Department of Electrical Engineering, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
Haider
Clifton R
CR
Campeau
Norbert G
NG
Huston
John
J
Riederer
Stephen J
SJ
D000328:Adult; D016477:Artifacts; D001921:Brain / Q000098:blood supply*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010690:Phlebography; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014680:Veins / Q000033:anatomy & histology*