title: Feasibility of peripheral contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography at 3.0 Tesla with a hybrid technique: comparison with digital subtraction angiography.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To prospectively determine feasibility and diagnostic accuracy of 3D contrast-enhanced MR-angiography (CE-MRA) at 3.0 tesla (T) in patients with peripheral arterial occlusive disease. Digital subtraction angiography (DSA) was used as reference standard.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty consecutive patients with suspected peripheral arterial occlusive disease were examined on a 3.0 T MR system by using the integrated whole body coil. A 4-station examination protocol in hybrid technique was chosen, containing 2 gadodiamide injections, the first one for imaging the calf and foot arteries (single-step technique) and the second injection for the visualization of the aortoiliacal and femoral arteries (bolus-chase MRA). All patients underwent DSA within the following 48 hours. The arterial tree of each leg was divided in 15 segments and 4 anatomic regions (iliacal, femoral, popliteal/proximal calf, distal calf/foot). Two radiologists analyzed the MR-images with regard to image quality, grade of stenosis, and venous overlap. DSA-images were analyzed by 2 radiologists in consensus with regard to the stenosis grade.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eight hundred eighty-five and 884 of 889 arterial segments at CE-MRA were rated with excellent or good diagnostic image quality by observer 1 and observer 2, respectively. In only 3 segments image quality was affected by venous contamination. Sensitivity of CE-MRA for determination of relevant arterial stenoses (50%-99%) and occlusions--as compared with DSA--was 95.3% (both observer) and specificity was 98.5% and 97.8% for observer 1 and observer 2, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Peripheral hybrid CE-MRA at 3.0 T is feasible and proved to be reliable at depiction of stenoses and occlusions of the whole pelvic and lower leg arterial system.
authors: Department of Radiology, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany. frank.berg@uk-koeln.de
authors: Frank
authors: F
authors: Berg
authors: Christopher
authors: C
authors: Bangard
authors: Henning
authors: H
authors: Bovenschulte
authors: Martin
authors: M
authors: Hellmich
authors: Marco
authors: M
authors: Nijenhuis
authors: Klaus
authors: K
authors: Lackner
authors: Axel
authors: A
authors: Gossmann
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015901:Angiography, Digital Subtraction; D003287:Contrast Media; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016491:Peripheral Vascular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013382:Subtraction Technique
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media