title: Optimization of free-breathing whole-heart 3-dimensional cardiac magnetic resonance imaging at 3 tesla to identify coronary vein anatomy and to compare with multidetector computed tomography.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study optimizes use of 3-T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to delineate coronary venous anatomy and compares 3-T MRI with multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) measurements.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study population included 37 consecutive subjects (22 men, 19-71 years old). Whole-heart contrast-enhanced MRI images at 3 T were acquired using segmented k-space gradient echo with inversion recovery prepared technique. The MDCT images were obtained using nonionic iodinated contrast.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The coronary sinus and great cardiac, posterior interventricular, and anterior interventricular veins were visualized in 100% of cases by both MRI and MDCT. Detection of the posterior vein of the left ventricle and the left marginal vein by MRI was 97% and 81%, respectively. Bland-Altman plots showed agreement in ostial diameter measured by both modalities with correlation coefficients ranging from 0.5 to 0.76. Vein length and distances also agreed closely.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Free-breathing whole-heart 3-dimensional MRI at 3 T provides high-spatial-resolution images and could offer an alternative imaging technique instead of MDCT scans.
authors.affiliation: From the *Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, National Institutes of Health (NIH) Clinical Center, Bethesda, MD; †Department of Radiology and Radiologic Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD; ‡National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases; and §NIH Clinical Center, Bethesda, MD.
authors.forename: Wael G
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Ibrahim
authors.forename: Riham H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: El Khouli
authors.forename: Khaled Z
authors.initials: KZ
authors.lastname: Abd-Elmoniem
authors.forename: Jatin Raj
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Matta
authors.forename: Dorothea
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: McAreavey
authors.forename: Ahmed M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Gharib
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D057791:Cardiac Imaging Techniques; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D061330:Multidetector Computed Tomography; D012119:Respiration; D055815:Young Adult