title: High-resolution magnetic resonance angiography of digital arteries in SSc patients on 3 Tesla: preliminary study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We sought to evaluate the use of high-resolution three-dimensional time of flight (3D TOF) magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) at 3 Tesla in the visualization of digital arteries in SSc patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 33 patients with SSc [32 females and 1 male; mean (s.d.) age 37.0 (10.2) years; median number of years since onset of RP 3.4 (2.8) years] and 7 healthy controls [6 females and 1 male; mean (s.d.) age 30.7 (3.5) years] were examined on a 3T MR system. A modified high spatial resolution (voxel size = 0.35 × 0.35 × 0.5 mm(3)) 3D TOF MRA (repetition time/echo time = 19/4.4 ms, flip angle = 15°, slice thickness = 1 mm) was performed during a total scan time of 8 min 22 s. The source images and maximum intensity projection reconstruction were studied; the digital arteries count and lumen area of the selective section of the vessel were measured independently by two experienced radiologists and compared with that of the control ones; and a four-level grading system was made according to the severity. Statistical analysis was performed with t-test and P < 0.05 was used as the criterion.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We detected the eight digital arteries in the four fingers (without the thumb) of each case and got a 47.58% presentation in general in the SSc group, and artery No. 5 had the highest presentation rate (70.97%). Statistics showed that the digital arteries No. 1 (P = 0.058) and No. 3 (P = 0.093) had no difference in the lumen area (P > 0.05). We finally got 3 cases in Grade 1, 14 cases in Grade 2, 9 cases in Grade 3 and 5 cases in Grade 4.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MRA of the digital arteries in the described technique is a promising method for us to judge the severity of microvascular involvement in finger vessels of SSc patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Shanghai Clinical Centre of Rheumatic Diseases and Institute of Rheumatology, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Jian Rong
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Qing
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Shuang
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ye
authors.forename: Xiao Sheng
authors.initials: XS
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001158:Arteries; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005385:Fingers / Q000098:blood supply*; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D011928:Raynaud Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*