Low dose pedal magnetic resonance angiography at 3 tesla with time-resolved imaging of contrast kinetics: a feasibility study.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the feasibility of low-dose time-resolved imaging of contrast kinetics (TRICKS) magnetic resonance (MR) angiography of the pedal vasculature at 3.0 Tesla (T) using a head coil.


METHODS
Eleven healthy volunteers were imaged using TRICKS MR angiography at 3.0 T with both feet positioned in a head coil. A dose of 7 mL was used for each of 3 acquisitions: images were obtained of each foot in the sagittal plane, and then both feet were imaged simultaneously in the transverse plane. The following parameters were used for acquisition: (TR/TE 4.7 milliseconds/ 1.3 milliseconds, field of view = 28 cm, Flip angle = 30 degrees, 384 x 256 matrix, section thickness = 1.6 mm, Bandwidth = 19.23). The dorsalis pedis, plantar arch, distal posterior tibial, lateral tarsal, and medial plantar arteries were graded for visualization, artifact, and overall image quality on a 4-point scale (1 = worst; 4 = best).


RESULTS
Superior visualization trended towards separate sagittal acquisitions when compared with that of bilateral transverse acquisitions for most of the individual vessels of the foot. Overall, separate sagittal acquisitions (average score = 2.9) were superior to bilateral transverse acquisitions (average score = 2.6). The average image quality score reflecting the amount of artifact was 2.6 for studies obtained using bilateral transverse acquisitions and 3.1 for studies obtained using separate sagittal acquisitions.


CONCLUSIONS
Low-dose gadolinium multi-injection TRICKS and bolus-chase MR angiography at 3.0 T provides an effective and easily reproducible technique for imaging of the pedal vasculature in volunteers and has great potential for clinical application.
Ganguli
Suvranu
S
Department of Radiology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, USA. sganguli@caregroup.harvard.edu
Pedrosa
Ivan
I
Smith
Martin P
MP
Niendorf
Eric R
ER
Fredericks
Scott
S
Rofsky
Neil M
NM
D000328:Adult; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D005528:Foot / Q000098:blood supply*; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D007700:Kinetics; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D011829:Radiation Dosage
D003287:Contrast Media