T2*-sensitized high-resolution magnetic resonance venography using 3D-PRESTO technique.
OBJECTIVE
We evaluated the ability of the PRESTO (principles of echo shifting with a train of observations) technique to reveal small veins and microbleeds in the human brain.


METHODS
In an experimental study, we calculated contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) between a cerebral parenchymal phantom and human venous blood using 3 sequences of 3-dimensional (3D)-PRESTO, 3D-gradient recalled echo (GRE), and 3D-GRE echo-planar imaging (EPI). Then, we examined 7 healthy volunteers and 5 patients with venous angiomas or traumatic brain injuries using the 3D-PRESTO technique. In volunteer studies, MR venographies were reconstructed from 10-mm, 15-mm, and 20-mm thickness data using the minimum-intensity-projection (MinIP) technique. Three radiologists identified deep brain venous anatomy and counted the visible left medullary veins. In clinical studies, we evaluated the lesion conspicuity of small venous diseases and microbleeds.


RESULTS
In the phantom study, 3D-PRESTO showed the highest CNR. In all volunteer studies, the deep brain venous anatomy was readily identified in the MinIP images at each thickness. The mean numbers of counted left medullary veins were 5.1 for 10 mm, 5.9 for 15 mm, and 6.7 for 20 mm in the MinIP images. The difference was significant between 10-mm and 20-mm MinIP images (P=0.02). In patient studies, abnormal small veins and microbleeds were clearly revealed.


CONCLUSIONS
High-resolution MR venography using 3D-PRESTO technique can clearly depict small veins and microbleeds in the human brain.
Tsuboyama
Takahiro
T
Department of Radiology, Kinki University School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan.
Imaoka
Izumi
I
Shimono
Taro
T
Nakatsuka
Takayuki
T
Ashikaga
Ryuichiro
R
Okuaki
Tomoyuki
T
Koyama
Nozomu
N
Murakami
Takamichi
T
D000328:Adult; D000465:Algorithms; D002550:Cerebral Veins / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D010690:Phlebography / Q000379:methods; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity