Gadolinium-enhanced, vessel-tracking, two-dimensional coronary MR angiography: Single-dose arterial-phase vs. delayed-phase imaging

• Published in: Journal of magnetic resonance imaging 2001-05, Vol.13 (5), p.682-689
• Main Authors: Ho, Vincent B., Foo, Thomas K. F., Arai, Andrew E., Wolff, Steven D.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; arteries; arteries, coronary; arteries, MR; contrast enhancement; Contrast Media - administration & dosage; coronary; Coronary Angiography; coronary vessels; Coronary Vessels - pathology; coronary vessels, MR; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Female; gadolinium; Gadolinium DTPA; Humans; Image Enhancement; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; Infusions, Intravenous; magnetic resonance; Magnetic Resonance Angiography; magnetic resonance, contrast enhancement; magnetic resonance, vascular studies; Male; Middle Aged; Reference Values; vascular studies
• ISSN: 1053-1807; 1522-2586
• DOI: 10.1002/jmri.1096

The purposes of our study were to investigate the benefits of using a single dose of an extracellular contrast agent for coronary magnetic resonance angiography (CMRA) and to determine the relative benefits of arterial‐phase vs. delayed‐phase image acquisition. The right coronary artery was imaged in 10 healthy adults using a breath‐hold, two‐dimensional fast gradient echo pulse sequence designed for vessel tracking (multiphase, multislice image acquisition). Pre‐ and postcontrast CMRA was performed. Postcontrast imaging consisted of arterial‐ and delayed‐phase CMRA following a 15 mL bolus (single dose) of contrast media and of delayed‐phase imaging following a cumulative 45 mL contrast dose (triple dose). Contrast‐enhanced CMRA provided a significantly higher (P < 0.001) signal‐to‐noise ratio (SNR) and contrast‐to‐noise ratio (CNR) than noncontrast CMRA. CNR was highest for single‐dose arterial‐phase CMRA (13.1 ± 4.5) and triple‐dose delayed‐phase CMRA (13.0 ± 4.8), followed by single‐dose delayed‐phase CMRA (8.4 ± 3.5) and noncontrast CMRA (4.2 ± 1.8). Single‐dose arterial‐phase CMRA provided the best visualization of the distal right coronary artery and was preferred for blinded physician assessments. We concluded that utilization of a single dose of extracellular contrast media improves CMRA, especially if timed for arterial‐phase imaging. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2001;13:682–689. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.