3D Whole-Heart Coronary MR Angiography at 1.5T in Healthy Volunteers: Comparison between Unenhanced SSFP and Gd-Enhanced FLASH Sequences.
10.3348/kjr.2011.12.6.679
- Author:
Hye Mi GWEON
1
;
Sang Jin KIM
;
Sang Min LEE
;
Yoo Jin HONG
;
Tae Hoon KIM
Author Information
1. Department of Radiology and Research Institute of Radiological Science, Yonsei University Health System, Seoul 135-720, Korea. thkim1@yuhs.ac
- Publication Type:Original Article ; Comparative Study ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
- Keywords:
Cardiac magnetic resonance;
Coronary artery imaging;
Steady-state free precession;
Fast low-angle shot;
Contrast agent;
1.5T
- MeSH:
Adult;
*Contrast Media;
Coronary Vessels/*anatomy & histology;
Female;
Gadolinium/diagnostic use;
Humans;
Image Processing, Computer-Assisted;
*Imaging, Three-Dimensional;
Magnetic Resonance Angiography/*methods;
Male;
Middle Aged;
Organometallic Compounds/*diagnostic use;
Reference Values;
Young Adult
- From:Korean Journal of Radiology
2011;12(6):679-685
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVE: To validate the optimal cardiac phase and appropriate acquisition window for three-dimensional (3D) whole-heart coronary magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) with a steady-state free precession (SSFP) sequence, and to compare image quality between SSFP and Gd-enhanced fast low-angle shot (FLASH) MR techniques at 1.5 Tesla (T). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty healthy volunteers (M:F = 25:5; mean age, 35 years; range, 24-54 years) underwent a coronary MRA at 1.5T. 3D whole-heart coronary MRA with an SSFP was performed at three different times: 1) at end-systole with a narrow (120-msec) acquisition window (ESN), 2) mid-diastole with narrow acquisition (MDN); and 3) mid-diastole with wide (170-msec) acquisition (MDW). All volunteers underwent a contrast enhanced coronary MRA after undergoing an unenhanced 3D true fast imaging with steady-state precession (FISP) MRA three times. A contrast enhanced coronary MRA with FLASH was performed during MDN. Visibility of the coronary artery and image quality were evaluated for 11 segments, as suggested by the American Heart Association. Image quality was scored by a five-point scale (1 = not visible to 5 = excellent). The signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) were evaluated at the proximal coronary arteries. RESULTS: The SSFP sequence rendered higher visibility coronary segments, higher image quality, as well as higher SNR and CNR than the Gd-enhanced FLASH technique at 1.5T (p < 0.05). The visibility of coronary segments, image quality, SNR and CNR in the ESN, MDN and MDW with SSFP sequence did not differ significantly. CONCLUSION: An SSFP sequence provides an excellent method for the 3D whole-heart coronary MRA at 1.5T. Contrast enhanced coronary MRA using the FLASH sequence does not help improve the visibility of coronary segments, image quality, SNR or CNR on the 3D whole-heart coronary MRA.
