First-pass and steady-state magnetic resonance angiography of the thoracic vasculature using gadofosveset trisodium.
OBJECTIVE
To compare a high-resolution, ECG-gated, motion-compensated, steady-state magnetic resonance angiography (SS-MRA) of the thoracic vasculature to standard first-pass MRA (FP-MRA) using a blood-pool contrast agent (gadofosveset trisodium).


METHODS
In all, 25 patients >or=18 years with congenital or acquired disease of the thoracic vasculature, who underwent both FP-MRA and SS-MRA, were retrospectively identified. Diameters of left superior pulmonary vein (LSPV), left pulmonary artery (LPA), and aortic arch (AA) were measured. Image quality for LSPV, LPA, AA, coronary ostia, and coronary sinus were assessed. Vessel sharpness of LPA and LSPV and contrast ratio (CR) of LSPV, LPA, and AA were calculated.


RESULTS
SS-MRA yielded significantly higher image quality for all vessels, and significantly higher vessel sharpness for LSPV and LPA compared to the FP-MRA. SS-MRA revealed lower intra- and interobserver variability for vessel diameters compared with the FP-MRA. The FP-MRA showed higher CR compared to the SS-MRA.


CONCLUSIONS
Motion-compensated high-resolution SS-MRA of the thoracic vasculature using gadofosveset trisodium offers superior image quality compared to standard FP-MRA. Although SS-MRA delivers no dynamic information it may prove specifically helpful as an add-on to FP-MRA for imaging of small vascular structures.
Department of Radiology, University of Bonn, Germany.
Claas P
CP
Naehle
Andreas
A
Müller
Winfried A
WA
Willinek
Carsten
C
Meyer
Tobias
T
Hestermann
Juergen
J
Gieseke
Hans
H
Schild
Daniel
D
Thomas
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003326:Coronary Circulation; D005260:Female; D005682:Gadolinium / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009942:Organometallic Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013909:Thorax / Q000098:blood supply*
D003287:Contrast Media; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D005682:Gadolinium; C109932:gadofosveset trisodium