title: Whole-body MR angiography: first experiences with the new TimCT technology with single contrast injection.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess image quality, presence of artifacts, arterial stenosis, and interobserver agreement of Tim-CT in assessment of the arterial system using contrast-enhanced whole-body-MRA (CE-Wb-MRA) with a single contrast-medium injection in patients with arteriosclerosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  The retrospective study included 18 patients (mean age, 68 years). A total of 468 arteries were evaluated. CE-Wb-MRA was performed using Tim-CT technology on a 1.5 Tesla (T) MRI after injecting a single dose of Vasovist. Evaluations were independently performed by two radiologists. The arterial system was divided into seven anatomic locations. Each radiologist assessed the image quality, degree of artifacts, and arterial stenosis in different locations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All Wb-MRA examinations were technically successful. Image quality: 28.42% arteries were excellent, 29.17% were good, 22.54% were satisfactory, 9.40% were poor, and 5.13% of insufficient quality. Occurrence of artifacts: 37.25% were free of artifacts, 49.44% minimal artifacts not affecting diagnosis, and 13.31% strong artifacts not permitting a diagnosis. A total of 60.00% arteries showed no stenosis, 8.76% were ≤50% stenotic, 5.17% were 51-75% stenotic, 4.38% were 76-99%, and 8.54% total occlusion. The interobserver agreement was good for supra-aortic, pelvic, and upper and lower leg regions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CE-Wb-MRA using the TimCT technology and with a single contrast injection is a feasible tool for whole-body MRA.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Johann Wolfgang Goethe University Hospital, Frankfurt University, Frankfurt, Germany; Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt.
authors.forename: Nagy N N
authors.initials: NN
authors.lastname: Naguib
authors.forename: Kevin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bohrt
authors.forename: Nour-Eldin A
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Nour-Eldin
authors.forename: Boris
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Schulz
authors.forename: Ahmed M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Tawfik
authors.forename: Petra
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Siebenhandel
authors.forename: Boris
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bodelle
authors.forename: Katrin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Eichler
authors.forename: Anton
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Moritz
authors.forename: Thomas J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Vogl
authors.forename: Stephan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zangos
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001157:Arterial Occlusive Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D005260:Female; D005682:Gadolinium / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015588:Observer Variation; D009942:Organometallic Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D058729:Peripheral Arterial Disease / Q000175:diagnosis*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D051598:Whole Body Imaging / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D005682:Gadolinium; C109932:gadofosveset trisodium
keywords: Tim-CT; single contrast injection; whole-body MRA