Comparison of nonenhanced MR angiographic subtraction techniques for infragenual arteries at 1.5 T: a preliminary study.

Purpose: To evaluate diagnostic performance of three nonenhanced methods: variable-refocusing-flip angle (FA) fast spin-echo (SE)-based magnetic resonance (MR) angiography (variable FA MR) and constant-refocusing-FA fast SE-based MR angiography (constant-FA MR) and flow-sensitive dephasing (FSD)-prepared steady-state free precession MR angiography (FSD MR) for calf arteries, with dual-injection three-station contrast material-enhanced MR angiography (gadolinium-enhanced MR) as reference.

Materials And Methods: This prospective study was institutional review board approved and HIPAA compliant, with informed consent. Twenty-one patients (13 men, eight women; mean age, 62.

MRI assessment of hepatic iron clearance rates after USPIO administration in healthy adults.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to monitor iron clearance from the liver by means of T2 and T2* mapping after administration of an ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxide (USPIO) agent.

Materials And Methods: The study was performed using ferumoxytol (Feraheme), a USPIO agent that has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of iron deficiency anemia in adult patients with chronic kidney disease. Six healthy human participants without anemia or preexisting iron overload were prospectively included.

Arterial flow characteristics in the presence of vascular disease and implications for fast spin echo-based noncontrast MR angiography.

Purpose: To investigate arterial flow characteristics in the setting of vascular disease, and examine their effect on the performance of fast spin-echo (FSE)-based noncontrast MR angiography (NC-MRA).

Materials And Methods: Seventeen patients were recruited from among those scheduled for routine contrast-enhanced MR angiography (CE-MRA) of the lower extremities at 1.5 Tesla.

Quantitative evaluation of acute renal transplant dysfunction with low-dose three-dimensional MR renography.

Purpose: To assess prospectively the ability of quantitative low-dose three-dimensional magnetic resonance (MR) renography to help identify the cause of acute graft dysfunction.

Materials And Methods: This HIPAA-compliant study was approved by the institutional review board, and written informed consent was obtained. Between December 2001 and May 2009, sixty patients with transplanted kidneys (41 men and 19 women; mean age, 49 years; age range, 22-71 years) were included.

Three-dimensional electrocardiographically gated variable flip angle FSE imaging for MR angiography of the hands at 3.0 T: initial experience.

After institutional review board approval and informed consent were obtained for this HIPAA-compliant investigation, a three-dimensional electrocardiographically gated variable flip angle (VFA) fast spin-echo magnetic resonance (MR) angiography technique was evaluated as an unenhanced method for imaging hand arteries in 13 subjects (including four patients) at 3.0 T; this included evaluation of vessel visualization with warming and cooling in seven subjects. Examinations were evaluated for image quality and vessel conspicuity.