title: Possibilities and limitations in imaging the intracranial arteries in the context of a contrast-enhanced whole-body magnetic resonance angiographic screening protocol at 1.5 versus 3 Tesla.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Evaluation of the diagnostic detectability of the intracranial vasculature on contrast-enhanced whole-body magnetic resonance angiographic (WBMRA) scans at 1.5 versus 3 T.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-seven patients with hereditary hyperlipidemia participated. Two experienced neuroradiologists scored the image quality regarding the intracranial arteries applying a 5-point scale. Stenoses and other findings were documented. Weighted κ-statistics were calculated to assess interobserver agreement.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Interobserver agreement was very good. Image quality scoring resulted in the following mean values: 3.0 at 1.5 T versus 3.9 at 3 T (P < 0.001). Venous contrast overlay and insufficient anatomic coverage occurred in both groups. Three stenoses were found at both field strengths.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Assessment of the intracranial vasculature on WBMRA data is basically feasible; image quality at 3 T seems superior. Shortcomings appear because of venous contamination and insufficient volume coverage. Therefore, adding a dedicated intracranial MRA to a WBMRA protocol would substantially increase diagnostic certainty.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Medical Clinic III, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany. jbuhk@uke.de
authors.forename: Jan-Hendrik
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Buhk
authors.forename: Thorsten
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ries
authors.forename: Anna-Katharina
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Finck-Wedel
authors.forename: Frank Ulrich
authors.initials: FU
authors.lastname: Beil
authors.forename: Gerhard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Adam
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Weber
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001158:Arteries; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation; D003287:Contrast Media; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000473:pathology; D002537:Intracranial Arteriosclerosis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D051598:Whole Body Imaging / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; C090600:gadobutrol