T1-weighted-SPACE dark blood whole body magnetic resonance angiography (DB-WBMRA): initial experience.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the feasibility of the dark blood fast spin echo (FSE) T1-weighted-Sampling Perfection with Application of optimized Contrasts using different flip angle Evolution (T1w-SPACE) sequence in assessing whole body arterial wall information from the extracranial carotids to the popliteal artery.


METHODS
Twenty-eight subjects were subjected to noncontrast, dark blood whole body magnetic resonance angiography (DB-WBMRA) using a T1w-SPACE sequence optimized for each of the individual stations: carotid artery, thoracic aorta, abdominal aorta, and thigh/superficial femoral artery (SFA). Image quality/vessel wall visualization and the time required to image the four stations were evaluated. Two observers checked the reproducibility of vessel wall depiction by performing quantitative measurements in registered initial and repeat studies (six subjects) of vessel wall and lumen area at 17 locations along the arterial tree.


RESULTS
In 25 of the 28 scanned subjects, dark blood arterial images acquired in approximately 1 hour total imaging time allowed whole body arterial vessel wall visualization. Quantitative measurements showed high correlation between the initial and repeat studies for each of the observers as well as high interobserver reproducibility (r > 0.95; P < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
DB-WBMRA using T1w-SPACE is feasible and can be performed with a high degree of reliability.
Mihai
Georgeta
G
Department of Internal Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA. georgeta.mihai@osumc.edu
Chung
Yiu-Cho
YC
Merchant
Ali
A
Simonetti
Orlando P
OP
Rajagopalan
Sanjay
S
D000328:Adult; D000465:Algorithms; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; 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; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013382:Subtraction Technique; D051598:Whole Body Imaging / Q000379:methods*