OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to compare the performance of 3D diffusion-prepared balanced steady-state free precession (SSFP) imaging with that of 3D contrast-enhanced MR angiography in evaluation of the thoracic aorta. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-one patients with indications for contrast-enhanced MR angiography and diffusion-prepared SSFP of the thoracic aorta were involved in this retrospective chart review study conducted with 1.5-T MRI. Two observers scored the quality of the contrast-enhanced MR angiographic and diffusion-prepared SSFP images on the basis of depicting the thoracic aorta. Image quality scores and diametric measurements of the aorta from both image sets were compared. RESULTS: Diametric measurements of the thoracic aorta showed a strong linear association (r = 0.971, p < 0.0001; regression line indifferent from line of equality, p < 0.05). The aortic root was better visualized with contrast-enhanced MR angiography (image quality score, 3.6 +/- 0.9 vs 3.0 +/- 0.8 of 5; p < 0.05); however, the aortic wall was better visualized with diffusion-prepared SSFP (image quality score, 4.4 +/- 0.6 vs 1.9 +/- 0.3 of 5; p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: Three-dimensional diffusion-prepared SSFP yields better image quality than 3D contrast-enhanced MR angiography in evaluation of the thoracic aortic wall and appears to be a useful adjunct to 3D contrast-enhanced MR angiography for assessing aortic abnormalities before administration of a contrast agent.
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to compare the performance of 3D diffusion-prepared balanced steady-state free precession (SSFP) imaging with that of 3D contrast-enhanced MR angiography in evaluation of the thoracic aorta. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-one patients with indications for contrast-enhanced MR angiography and diffusion-prepared SSFP of the thoracic aorta were involved in this retrospective chart review study conducted with 1.5-T MRI. Two observers scored the quality of the contrast-enhanced MR angiographic and diffusion-prepared SSFP images on the basis of depicting the thoracic aorta. Image quality scores and diametric measurements of the aorta from both image sets were compared. RESULTS: Diametric measurements of the thoracic aorta showed a strong linear association (r = 0.971, p < 0.0001; regression line indifferent from line of equality, p < 0.05). The aortic root was better visualized with contrast-enhanced MR angiography (image quality score, 3.6 +/- 0.9 vs 3.0 +/- 0.8 of 5; p < 0.05); however, the aortic wall was better visualized with diffusion-prepared SSFP (image quality score, 4.4 +/- 0.6 vs 1.9 +/- 0.3 of 5; p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: Three-dimensional diffusion-prepared SSFP yields better image quality than 3D contrast-enhanced MR angiography in evaluation of the thoracic aortic wall and appears to be a useful adjunct to 3D contrast-enhanced MR angiography for assessing aortic abnormalities before administration of a contrast agent.
Authors: Frank J Rybicki; Dimitrios Mitsouras; Christopher D Owens; Amanda Whitmore; Marie Gerhard-Herman; Nichole Wake; Tianxi Cai; Qian Zhou; Michael S Conte; Mark A Creager; Robert V Mulkern Journal: Int J Cardiovasc Imaging Date: 2010-03-24 Impact factor: 2.357
Authors: Ananth J Madhuranthakam; Karen S Lee; Aya Yassin; Jean H Brittain; Ivan Pedrosa; Neil M Rofsky; David C Alsop Journal: MAGMA Date: 2013-09-20 Impact factor: 2.310
Authors: P Vakil; J Vranic; M C Hurley; R A Bernstein; A W Korutz; A Habib; A Shaibani; F H Dehkordi; T J Carroll; S A Ansari Journal: AJNR Am J Neuroradiol Date: 2013-07-04 Impact factor: 3.825
Authors: Volker Rasche; Alexander Oberhuber; Stephan Trumpp; Axel Bornstedt; Karl-Heinz Orend; Nico Merkle; Wolfgang Rottbauer; Martin Hoffmann Journal: Eur Radiol Date: 2011-02-18 Impact factor: 5.315