title: MR angiography for detecting the artery of Adamkiewicz and its branching level from the aorta.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We evaluated the efficacy of magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) for detecting the artery of Adamkiewicz (AKA) and the vertebral level of its feeding arteries branching from the aorta.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty-two patients (67 men, 15 women; aged 34 to 86 years, mean age 68.6 years) with thoracic descending and thoracoabdominal aortic lesions (aneurysm in 55, dissection in 25, coarctation in 2) underwent MRA to detect AKA. MRA was performed using 6-phase, dynamic-enhanced, 3-dimensional, fast spoiled gradient recalled acquisition in steady state (GRASS) on a 1.5-tesla (T) system, with double-dose bolus contrast injection. The vertebral levels of AKA branching and the AKA feeder artery branching from the aorta were determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The AKA was detected in 67 patients (81.7%). Branching of AKA occurred at levels T7 to T12 on the left side (n=52) and on the right (n=15). Vascular continuity from the aorta to the anterior spinal artery was demonstrated in 55 patients (67.1%). Comparing the vertebral level of arterial branching from the aorta to that of the AKA at the intervertebral foramen, the AKA branched at the same vertebral level in 44 patients (80.0%), one vertebral level above/below in 10 (18.2%), and 2 vertebral levels above in one (1.8%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MRA can be useful in the preoperative work-up of patients with thoracoabdominal aortic lesions to localize AKA and the segmental trajectories of vessels supplying blood to the AKA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Sapporo Medical University, Sapporo, Japan. hyodo@sapmed.ac.jp
authors.forename: Hideki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hyodoh
authors.forename: Ryuji
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Shirase
authors.forename: Nobuyoshi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kawaharada
authors.forename: Kazusa
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hyodoh
authors.forename: Taishi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sato
authors.forename: Maki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Onodera
authors.forename: Kazunori
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Aratani
authors.forename: Masato
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hareyama
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001011:Aorta / Q000473:pathology*; D001018:Aortic Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D001027:Aortography / Q000379:methods; D001158:Arteries / Q000473:pathology*; D003287:Contrast Media; D005260:Female; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA