title: Whole-body MRI and MRA for evaluation of the prevalence of atherosclerosis in a cohort of subjectively healthy individuals.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the prevalence of cardiovascular findings in asymptomatic individuals by means of 1.5-T whole-body magnetic resonance imaging and angiography.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cohort of 138 individuals (118 men, 20 women) with a mean age of 54 years (SD ± 7.55) was referred to whole-body MRI at 1.5-T, including contrast-enhanced whole-body MR angiography (MRA) and cardiac MRI. A total of 2,065/2,070 vessel segments (99.8%) and cardiac function were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Approximately one-fourth of the participating individuals had vascular abnormalities. In 17 subjects (12.3% of all subjects) significant luminal narrowing was observed in at least one vascular segment. Luminal narrowing (mild to severe) was observed in 1 (0.7% of all subjects respectively) of the renal arteries, 7 (5.0%) of the carotid arteries, and 3 (2.2%) of the pelvic and upper leg arteries, and in 17 segments (12.3%) of arteries in the lower leg. In cardiac function and perfusion imaging, wall motion disorders were observed in six patients (4.3%), with additional delayed enhancement and isolated delayed enhancement present in two cases. Functional parameters differed from reference values in 55 cases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Even in an asymptomatic cohort of middle-aged predominantly male individuals, atherosclerotic disease is not uncommon and is detectable by whole-body MRI.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  • In middle-aged predominantly male individuals, atherosclerotic disease is not uncommon. • Even in an asymptomatic collective, approximately one fourth had vascular abnormalities. • Using whole-body MR angiography (MRA), 99.8% of 2,070 vessel segments could be evaluated.
authors: Department of Clinical Radiology, University Hospital Munich, Grosshadern Campus, Munich, Germany, monalaible@googlemail.com.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Laible
authors: S O
authors: SO
authors: Schoenberg
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Weckbach
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Lettau
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Winnik
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Bischof
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Franke
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Reiser
authors: H
authors: H
authors: Kramer