Double-oblique free-breathing high resolution three-dimensional coronary magnetic resonance angiography

• Published in: Journal of the American College of Cardiology 1999-08, Vol.34 (2), p.524-531
• Main Authors: Stuber, Matthias, Botnar, René M., Danias, Peter G., Sodickson, Daniel K., Kissinger, Kraig V., Van Cauteren, Marc, De Becker, Jan, Manning, Warren J.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Biological and medical sciences; Cardiovascular system; Coronary Angiography; Coronary Disease - diagnosis; Coronary Disease - diagnostic imaging; Coronary Vessels - anatomy & histology; Coronary Vessels - pathology; Female; Humans; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Magnetic Resonance Angiography - methods; Male; Medical sciences; Radiodiagnosis. Nmr imagery. Nmr spectrometry
• ISSN: 0735-1097; 1558-3597
• DOI: 10.1016/S0735-1097(99)00223-5

OBJECTIVES The goal of the present study was to develop a strategy for three-dimensional (3D) volume acquisition along the major axes of the coronary arteries. BACKGROUND For high-resolution 3D free-breathing coronary magnetic resonance angiography (MRA), coverage of the coronary artery tree may be limited due to excessive measurement times associated with large volume acquisitions. Planning the 3D volume along the major axis of the coronary vessels may help to overcome such limitations. METHODS Fifteen healthy adult volunteers and seven patients with X-ray angiographically confirmed coronary artery disease underwent free-breathing navigator-gated and corrected 3D coronary MRA. For an accurate volume targeting of the high resolution scans, a three-point planscan software tool was applied. RESULTS The average length of contiguously visualized left main and left anterior descending coronary artery was 81.8 ± 13.9 mm in the healthy volunteers and 76.2 ± 16.5 mm in the patients (p = NS). For the right coronary artery, a total length of 111.7 ± 27.7 mm was found in the healthy volunteers and 79.3 ± 4.6 mm in the patients (p = NS). Comparing coronary MRA and X-ray angiography, a good agreement of anatomy and pathology was found in the patients. CONCLUSIONS Double-oblique submillimeter free-breathing coronary MRA allows depiction of extensive parts of the native coronary arteries. The results obtained in patients suggest that the method has the potential to be applied in broader prospective multicenter studies where coronary MRA is compared with X-ray angiography.