title: In-vivo phase contrast magnetic resonance angiography of the cerebrovascular system: a comparative study with duplex sonography.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Assessment of the cerebral blood flow (CBF) is crucial in the evaluation of patients with steno-occlusive diseases of the arteries supplying the brain for prediction of stroke risk. Quantitative phase contrast magnetic resonance angiography (PC-MRA) can be utilised for noninvasive quantification of CBF. The aim of this study was to validate in-vivo PC-MRA data by comparing them with colour-coded duplex (CCD) sonography in patients with cerebrovascular disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  We examined 24 consecutive patients (mean age 63 years) with stenosis of arteries supplying the brain using PC-MRA and CCD. Velocities were measured in a total of 209 stenotic and healthy arterial segments (110 extra- and 99 intracranial).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Moderate to good correlation of velocity measurements between both techniques was observed in all six extracranial and five out of seven intracranial segments (p <0.05). Velocities measured with CCD sonography were generally higher than those obtained by PC-MRA. Reversal of flow direction was detected consistently with both methods.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PC-MRA represents a robust, standardised magnetic resonance imaging technique for blood flow measurements within a reasonable acquisition time, potentially evolving as valuable work-up tool for more precise patient stratification for revascularisation therapy. PC-MRA overcomes relevant weaknesses of CCD in being not operator-dependent and not relying on a bone window to assess the intracranial arteries.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology, University Hospital Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Kety
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hsieh
authors.affiliation: Institute for Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology, University Hospital Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Katja
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Stein
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University Hospital Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Marie-Luise
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Mono
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology.
authors.forename: Frauke
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kellner-Weldon
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology.
authors.forename: Rajeev Kumar
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Verma
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Weisstanner
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery.
authors.forename: Lukas
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Andereggen
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Reinert
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology.
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gralla
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology.
authors.forename: Gerhard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Schroth
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology.
authors.forename: Marwan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: El-Koussy
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001157:Arterial Occlusive Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001921:Brain / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D002536:Cerebral Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation / Q000502:physiology*; D003287:Contrast Media; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018616:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Duplex / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media