Fetal dynamic phase-contrast MR angiography using ultrasound gating and comparison with Doppler ultrasound measurements

• Published in: European radiology 2019-08, Vol.29 (8), p.4169-4176
• Main Authors: Schoennagel, B. P., Yamamura, J., Kording, F., Fischer, R., Bannas, P., Adam, G., Kooijman, H., Ruprecht, C., Fehrs, K., Tavares de Sousa, M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Angiography; Aorta; Arteries - embryology; Arteries - physiology; Blood flow; Blood Flow Velocity - physiology; Compatibility; Coronary vessels; Correlation analysis; Diagnostic Radiology; Doppler effect; Feasibility studies; Female; Fetal Blood - physiology; Fetus - physiology; Fetuses; Flow velocity; Gating; Gestational Age; Heart rate; Hemodynamics; Human performance; Humans; Imaging; Internal Medicine; Interventional Radiology; Magnetic Resonance; Magnetic Resonance Angiography - methods; Magnetic Resonance Angiography - standards; Magnetic resonance imaging; Maternal Age; Measurement methods; Medical imaging; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Microscopy, Phase-Contrast - methods; Neuroradiology; Pregnancy; Prenatal Diagnosis - methods; Prenatal Diagnosis - standards; Prospective Studies; Radiology; Reproducibility; Reproducibility of Results; Sensors; Stroke; Stroke volume; Ultrasonic imaging; Ultrasonic testing; Ultrasonography, Doppler - methods; Ultrasonography, Prenatal - methods; Ultrasound; Velocimetry; Velocity measurement
• ISSN: 0938-7994; 1432-1084
• DOI: 10.1007/s00330-018-5940-y

Objectives To investigate the feasibility of fetal phase-contrast (PC)-MR angiography of the descending aorta (AoD) using an MR-compatible Doppler ultrasound sensor (DUS) for fetal cardiac gating and to compare velocimetry with Doppler ultrasound measurements. Methods In this prospective study, 2D PC-MR angiography was performed in 12 human fetuses (mean gestational age 32.8 weeks) using an MR-compatible DUS for gating of the fetal heart at 1.5 T. Peak flow velocities in the fetal AoD were compared with Doppler ultrasound measurements performed on the same day. Reproducibility of PC-MR measurements was tested by repeated PC-MR in five fetuses. Results Dynamic PC-MR angiography in the AoD was successfully performed in all fetuses using the DUS, with an average fetal heart rate of 140 bpm (range 129–163). Time-velocity curves revealed typical arterial blood flow patterns. PC-MR mean flow velocity and mean flux were 21.2 cm/s (range 8.6–36.8) and 8.4 ml/s (range 3.2–14.6), respectively. A positive association between PC-MR mean flux and stroke volume with gestational age was obtained ( r  = 0.66, p  = 0.02 and r  = 0.63, p  = 0.03). PC-MR and Doppler ultrasound peak velocities revealed a highly significant correlation ( r  = 0.8, p