title: Technical assessment of whole body angiography and cardiac function within a single MRI examination.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate a combined protocol for simultaneous cardiac MRI (CMR) and contrast-enhanced (CE) whole-body MR angiography (WB-MRA) techniques within a single examination.
  
  
  METHODS
  Asymptomatic volunteers (n = 48) with low-moderate risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) were recruited. The protocol was divided into four sections: (1) CMR of left ventricle (LV) structure and function; (2) CE-MRA of the head, neck, and thorax followed by the distal lower limbs; (3) CMR LV "late gadolinium enhancement" assessment; and (4) CE-MRA of the abdomen and pelvis followed by the proximal lower limbs. Multiple observers undertook the image analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  For CMR, the mean ejection fraction (EF) was 67.3 ± 4.8% and mean left ventricular mass (LVM) was 100.3 ± 22.8 g. The intra-observer repeatability for EF ranged from 2.1-4.7% and from 9-12 g for LVM. Interobserver repeatability was 8.1% for EF and 19.1 g for LVM. No LV delayed myocardial enhancement was observed. For WB-MRA, some degree of luminal narrowing or stenosis was seen at 3.6% of the vessel segments (involving n = 29 of 48 volunteers) and interobserver radiological opinion was consistent in 96.7% of 1488 vessel segments assessed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Combined assessment of WB-MRA and CMR can be undertaken within a single examination on a clinical MRI system. The associated analysis techniques are repeatable and may be suitable for larger-scale cardiovascular MRI studies.
authors: NHS Tayside Clinical Radiology, Ninewells Hospital, Dundee DD1 9SY, UK; NHS Tayside Medical Physics, Ninewells Hospital, Dundee DD1 9SY, UK. Electronic address: Stephen.Gandy@nhs.net.
authors: S J
authors: SJ
authors: Gandy
authors: Medical Research Institute, College of Medicine, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 9SY, UK.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Lambert
authors: Medical Research Institute, College of Medicine, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 9SY, UK.
authors: J J F
authors: JJ
authors: Belch
authors: NHS Tayside Medical Physics, Ninewells Hospital, Dundee DD1 9SY, UK.
authors: I D
authors: ID
authors: Cavin
authors: NHS Tayside Clinical Radiology, Ninewells Hospital, Dundee DD1 9SY, UK.
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Crowe
authors: Medical Research Institute, College of Medicine, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 9SY, UK.
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Littleford
authors: NHS Tayside Medical Physics, Ninewells Hospital, Dundee DD1 9SY, UK.
authors: J A
authors: JA
authors: Macfarlane
authors: Medical Research Institute, College of Medicine, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 9SY, UK.
authors: S Z
authors: SZ
authors: Matthew
authors: NHS Tayside Clinical Radiology, Ninewells Hospital, Dundee DD1 9SY, UK.
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Martin
authors: NHS Tayside Clinical Radiology, Ninewells Hospital, Dundee DD1 9SY, UK; NHS Tayside Medical Physics, Ninewells Hospital, Dundee DD1 9SY, UK.
authors: R S
authors: RS
authors: Nicholas
authors: Medical Research Institute, College of Medicine, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 9SY, UK.
authors: A D
authors: AD
authors: Struthers
authors: Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada; Department of Research and Innovation, North York General Hospital, Toronto, Canada.
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Sullivan
authors: NHS Tayside Medical Physics, Ninewells Hospital, Dundee DD1 9SY, UK.
authors: S A
authors: SA
authors: Waugh
authors: NHS Tayside Clinical Radiology, Ninewells Hospital, Dundee DD1 9SY, UK; Department of Clinical Radiology, University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff CF14 4XW, UK.
authors: R D
authors: RD
authors: White
authors: Medical Research Institute, College of Medicine, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 9SY, UK.
authors: J R
authors: JR
authors: Weir-McCall
authors: NHS Tayside Clinical Radiology, Ninewells Hospital, Dundee DD1 9SY, UK; Medical Research Institute, College of Medicine, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 9SY, UK.
authors: J G
authors: JG
authors: Houston
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001157:Arterial Occlusive Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D055424:Cardiac-Gated Imaging Techniques / Q000379:methods; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D023921:Coronary Stenosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D064368:Healthy Volunteers; D006321:Heart / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D019028:Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Cine / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015588:Observer Variation; D051598:Whole Body Imaging / Q000379:methods*