Modified electrocardiograph-triggered black-blood turbo spin-echo technique to improve T1-weighting in contrast-enhanced MRI of atherosclerotic carotid arteries.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the efficacy of a modified electrocardiograph (EKG)-triggered black-blood T1W (T1W) spin-echo sequence in improving contrast on post-gadolinium high-resolution carotid plaque imaging by implementing heart-rate-independent contrast preparation.


METHODS
We used a standard EKG-triggered double inversion-recovery (DIR) turbo spin-echo (TSE) sequence modified with the addition of an extra saturation (90 degrees ) radio frequency (RF) pulse placed immediately after the DIR module, shortening the repetition time to a fixed value of 400 msec. A total of 10 patients with atherosclerotic disease were included in the study. Postinjection intraplaque contrast measurements were performed on each patient for the standard and the modified sequence.


RESULTS
Post-gadolinium-injection intraplaque contrast was 31.7 +/- 12.8% with the standard T1W sequence (nT1-TSE), and 45.3 +/- 17.2% with the modified T1W sequence (mT1-TSE), showing a significant contrast enhancement of 13.6% (P < 0.001) without significant image quality modification.


CONCLUSIONS
The addition of a RF pulse to the standard EKG-triggered T1W TSE sequence increased intraplaque contrast without increasing sequence acquisition time. Furthermore, it appeared to be a robust technique, easy to implement on clinical scanners.
Boussel
Loic
L
Department of Radiology, Hôpital Louis Pradel, Bron, Lyon, France. loic.boussel@libertysurf.fr
Herigault
Gwenael
G
Sigovan
Monica
M
Loffroy
Romaric
R
Canet-Soulas
Emmanuelle
E
Douek
Philippe Charles
PC
D000368:Aged; D016477:Artifacts; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D003287:Contrast Media; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008536:Meglumine; D008875:Middle Aged; D009942:Organometallic Compounds
D003287:Contrast Media; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D008536:Meglumine; C072417:gadoterate meglumine