BACKGROUND: Magnetic resonance coronary angiography is challenging because of the motion of the vessels during cardiac contraction and respiration. Additional challenges are the small calibre of the arteries and their complex three dimensional course. Respiratory gating, turboflash acquisition, and volume rendering techniques may meet the necessary requirements for appropriate visualisation. OBJECTIVE: To determine the diagnostic accuracy of respiratory gated magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for the detection of significant coronary artery stenoses evaluated with three dimensional postprocessing software. METHODS: 32 patients referred for elective coronary angiography were studied with a retrospective respiratory gated three dimensional gradient echo MRI technique. Resolution was 1.9 x 1.25 x 2 mm. After manual segmentation three dimensional evaluation was performed with a volume rendering technique. RESULTS: Overall 74% (range 50% to 90%) of the proximal and mid coronary artery segments were visualised with an image quality suitable for further analysis. Sensitivity and specificity for the detection of significant stenoses were 50% and 91%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Volume rendering of respiratory gated MRI techniques allows adequate visualisation of the coronary arteries in patients with a regular breathing pattern. Significant lesions in the major coronary artery branches can be identified with a moderate sensitivity and a high specificity.
BACKGROUND: Magnetic resonance coronary angiography is challenging because of the motion of the vessels during cardiac contraction and respiration. Additional challenges are the small calibre of the arteries and their complex three dimensional course. Respiratory gating, turboflash acquisition, and volume rendering techniques may meet the necessary requirements for appropriate visualisation. OBJECTIVE: To determine the diagnostic accuracy of respiratory gated magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for the detection of significant coronary artery stenoses evaluated with three dimensional postprocessing software. METHODS: 32 patients referred for elective coronary angiography were studied with a retrospective respiratory gated three dimensional gradient echo MRI technique. Resolution was 1.9 x 1.25 x 2 mm. After manual segmentation three dimensional evaluation was performed with a volume rendering technique. RESULTS: Overall 74% (range 50% to 90%) of the proximal and mid coronary artery segments were visualised with an image quality suitable for further analysis. Sensitivity and specificity for the detection of significant stenoses were 50% and 91%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Volume rendering of respiratory gated MRI techniques allows adequate visualisation of the coronary arteries in patients with a regular breathing pattern. Significant lesions in the major coronary artery branches can be identified with a moderate sensitivity and a high specificity.
Authors: E K Fishman; D Magid; D R Ney; E L Chaney; S M Pizer; J G Rosenman; D N Levin; M W Vannier; J E Kuhlman; D D Robertson Journal: Radiology Date: 1991-11 Impact factor: 11.105
Authors: M R Prince; D L Narasimham; J C Stanley; T L Chenevert; D M Williams; M V Marx; K J Cho Journal: Radiology Date: 1995-12 Impact factor: 11.105
Authors: B S Kuszyk; D G Heath; D R Ney; D A Bluemke; B A Urban; T P Chambers; E K Fishman Journal: AJR Am J Roentgenol Date: 1995-08 Impact factor: 3.959
Authors: P J de Feyter; P W Serruys; K Nieman; N Mollet; F Cademartiri; R J van Geuns; C Slager; A F W van der Steen; R Krams; J A Schaar; P Wielopolski; P M T Pattynama; A Arampatzis; A van der Lugt; E Regar; J Ligthart; P Smits Journal: Neth Heart J Date: 2003-09 Impact factor: 2.380