Time-resolved contrast-enhanced MR angiography: Value of hemodynamic information in the assessment of vascular diseases.
BACKGROUND
To assess the quality of images obtained from time-resolved MRA together with the accuracy of this technique in diagnosing vascular diseases and the usefulness of haemodynamic information provided by this method.


METHODS
The study group included 120 patients with different vascular pathologies excluding of intracranial vessels. All patients underwent time-resolved MRA on 1.5T unit. Results were correlated with other imaging techniques: DSA (n=36), CTA (n=28), Doppler ultrasound (n=71) and intraoperative findings (n=10). Independently, two radiologists evaluated the MRA studies assessing the quality of the images in a 3 point scale (3 - good, 1 - poor), as well as the presence or absence of haemodynamic information (3 - relevant dynamic information, 2 - irrelevant dynamic information, 1 - lack of dynamic information) for different vascular pathologies.


RESULTS
Mean quality of MRA examinations was 2.94 (reader A and B) and was similar for different pathologies (kappa value =0.757). The mean grading (reader A and B) for the presence of dynamic information was above 2 for the following pathologies: celiac artery branch pseudoaneurysm (3), vascular malformation (3), subclavian steal syndrome (2.5), Leriche's syndrome (2.25), aortic dissection (2.06), renal artery stenosis (2.03); and below 2 for: pelvic arterial occlusive disease (1.75), abdominal aortic aneurysm (1.31), carotid artery stenosis (1.1), thoracic aortic aneurysm (1.0). Kappa value was 0.802. The sensitivity was 95%, specificity 96% and positive predictive value 98%.


CONCLUSIONS
Time-resolved MRA provides good quality images and enables reliable diagnosis of vascular pathologies.
2  Department of Clinical Radiology Warsaw Medical University, Warsaw, Poland.
Edyta
E
Maj
Andrzej
A
Cieszanowski
Olgierd
O
Rowiński
Mikołaj
M
Wojtaszek
Małgorzata
M
Szostek
Robert
R
Tworus