title: Equilibrium-phase high spatial resolution contrast-enhanced MR angiography at 1.5T in preoperative imaging for perforator flap breast reconstruction.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim was (i) to evaluate the accuracy of equilibrium-phase high spatial resolution (EP) contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography (CE-MRA) at 1.5T using a blood pool contrast agent for the preoperative evaluation of deep inferior epigastric artery perforator branches (DIEP), and (ii) to compare image quality with conventional first-pass CE-MRA.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-three consecutive patients were included. All patients underwent preoperative CE-MRA to determine quality and location of DIEP. First-pass imaging after a single bolus injection of 10 mL gadofosveset trisodium was followed by EP imaging. MRA data were compared to intra-operative findings, which served as the reference standard.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was 100% agreement between EP CE-MRA and surgical findings in identifying the single best perforator branch. All EP acquisitions were of diagnostic quality, whereas in 10 patients the quality of the first-pass acquisition was qualified as non-diagnostic. Both signal- and contrast-to-noise ratios were significantly higher for EP imaging in comparison with first-pass acquisitions (p<0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  EP CE-MRA of DIEP in the preoperative evaluation of patients undergoing a breast reconstruction procedure is highly accurate in identifying the single best perforator branch at 1.5Tesla (T). Besides accuracy, image quality of EP imaging proved superior to conventional first-pass CE-MRA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Bas
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Versluis
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tuinder
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Boetes
authors.forename: René
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Van Der Hulst
authors.forename: Arno
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lataster
authors.forename: Tom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Van Mulken
authors.forename: Joachim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wildberger
authors.forename: Michiel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: de Haan
authors.forename: Tim
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Leiner
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003287:Contrast Media; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D016462:Mammaplasty; D008875:Middle Aged; D061525:Perforator Flap / Q000098:blood supply*
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media