High spatial resolution and high contrast visualization of brain arteries and veins: impact of blood pool contrast agent and water-selective excitation imaging at 3T.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate a blood pool contrast agent and water-selective excitation imaging at 3 T for high spatial and high contrast imaging of brain vessels including the veins.


RESULTS
48 clinical patients (47 ± 18 years old) were included. Based on clinical findings, twenty-four patients received a single dose of standard extracellular Gadoterate-meglumine (Dotarem®) and 24 received the blood pool contrast agent Gadofosveset (Vasovist®). After finishing routine MR protocols, all patients were investigated with two high spatial resolution (0.15 mm (3) voxel size) gradient echo sequences in random order in the equilibrium phase (steady-state) as approved by the review board: A standard RF-spoiled gradient-echo sequence (HR-SS, TR/TE 5.1/2.3 msec, FA 30°) and a fat-suppressed gradient-echo sequence with water-selective excitation (HR-FS, 1331 binominal-pulse, TR/TE 8.8/3.8 msec, FA 30°). The images were subjectively assessed (image quality with vessel contrast, artifacts, depiction of lesions) by two investigators and contrast-to-noise ratios (CNR) were compared using the Student's t-test. The image quality and CNR in the HR-FS were significantly superior compared to the HR-SS for both contrast agents (p < 0.05). The CNR was also improved when using the blood pool agent but only to a minor extent while the subjective image quality was similar for both contrast agents.


CONCLUSIONS
The utilized sequence with water-selective excitation improved image quality and CNR properties in high spatial resolution imaging of brain arteries and veins. The used blood pool contrast agent improved the CNR only to a minor extent over the extracellular contrast agent.
Spuentrup
E
E
Radiologie, Klinikum Saarbrücken, Germany. spuenti@rad.rwth-aachen.de
Jacobs
J E
JE
Kleimann
J F
JF
Wiethoff
A J
AJ
Poggenborg
J
J
Brinker
G
G
Loehr
M
M
Möller-Hartmann
W
W
Botnar
R M
RM
Ernestus
R-I
RI
Lackner
K-J
KJ
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000175:diagnosis*; D020216:Carotid-Cavernous Sinus Fistula / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002536:Cerebral Arteries / Q000473:pathology*; D002550:Cerebral Veins / Q000473:pathology*; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D005682:Gadolinium; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D002538:Intracranial Arteriovenous Malformations / Q000175:diagnosis*; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008536:Meglumine; D008875:Middle Aged; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012851:Sinus Thrombosis, Intracranial / Q000175:diagnosis*; D014741:Video Recording
D003287:Contrast Media; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D008536:Meglumine; D005682:Gadolinium; C072417:gadoterate meglumine; C109932:gadofosveset trisodium