title: Gadolinium-free MR in coarctation-can contrast-enhanced MR angiography be replaced?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the difference in vessel measurements, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), and voxel size between contrast-enhanced and noncontrast magnetic resonance techniques in patients with coarctation of the aorta (CoA).
  
  
  METHODS
  In 39 patients, vessel size, SNR, and voxel size were compared in cine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), gadolinium-free magnetic resonance angiography (Gd-free MRA), and contrast-enhanced MRA (ce-MRA).
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no significant difference in measurement and SNR, but there was a significant difference in voxel size (P<.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results show that, in CoA patients, monitoring of vessel size using cine MRI and Gd-free MRA is equivalent to ce-MRA while being less invasive.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Division of Pediatric Radiology, Medical University of Graz, LKH-Univ. Klinikum Graz, Austria; Department of Radiology, Division of Vascular and Interventional Radiology, Medical University of Graz, LKH-Univ. Klinikum Graz, Austria. Electronic address: peter.kalmar@medunigraz.at.
authors.forename: Peter I
authors.initials: PI
authors.lastname: Kalmar
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Medical University of Graz, LKH-Univ. Klinikum Graz, Austria.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Koestenberger
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Division of Pediatric Radiology, Medical University of Graz, LKH-Univ. Klinikum Graz, Austria.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Marterer
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Division of Pediatric Radiology, Medical University of Graz, LKH-Univ. Klinikum Graz, Austria.
authors.forename: Sebastian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tschauner
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Division of Pediatric Radiology, Medical University of Graz, LKH-Univ. Klinikum Graz, Austria.
authors.forename: Erich
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sorantin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001011:Aorta / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D001017:Aortic Coarctation / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003287:Contrast Media; D005260:Female; D005682:Gadolinium; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D019028:Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Cine / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D059629:Signal-To-Noise Ratio; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D005682:Gadolinium; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA
keywords: Coarctation of the aorta; Gadolinium; MR angiography; Pediatric