Gadolinium contrast-enhanced three-dimensional MRA of peripheral arteries with multiple bolus injection: scan optimization in vitro and in vivo.

In this study, a scanning protocol was developed to image the arterial bed of the pelvis and both legs along their entire length in patients with peripheral arterial disease, using standard hard- and software. Three adjacent stations are acquired consecutively, with some small overlap; per station; one Gadolinium contrast bolus is administered. The scanning protocol was optimized in an in vitro phantom study.

Scan optimization of gadolinium contrast-enhanced three-dimensional MRA of peripheral arteries with multiple bolus injections and in vitro validation of stenosis quantification.

In this study, a T1-weighted three-dimensional (3D) spoiled gradient-echo scanning protocol was developed to image the complete arterial system of the pelvis and both legs along their entire length in patients with peripheral arterial disease. Three adjacent stations were to be acquired consecutively, with some overlap, to image the entire area of interest; per station one gadolinium (Gd) contrast bolus would be administered. In an in vitro phantom study, the scanning protocol was optimized.

Variations in blood flow waveforms in stenotic renal arteries by 2D phase-contrast cine MRI.

Waveform variations in blood flow measurements through stenotic renal arteries have been reported already with echo Doppler studies. We studied these variations with MRI in 14 patients (mean age, 60 years) with suspected renal arterial stenosis (24 patent arteries, four occluded). Flow measurements were successful in 15 arteries and unsuccessful in nine, due to practical limitations.

Objective stenosis quantification from post-stenotic signal loss in phase-contrast magnetic resonance angiographic datasets of flow phantoms and renal arteries.

In this study a semi-automated and observer-independent algorithm for quantifying post-stenotic signal loss (PSL) in three-dimensional phase-contrast (PC) magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) of patients with renal artery stenosis is presented. This algorithm was developed on MRA datasets of stenotic phantoms, included in a flow circuit with stationary flows. The length and the severity of the PSL (incorporating both the length and the degree of PSL) in the MRA datasets were proposed for quantifying the stenoses.

Hemodynamic significance of renal artery stenosis: digital subtraction angiography versus systolically gated three-dimensional phase-contrast MR angiography.

Purpose: To compare digital subtraction angiography with three-dimensional phase-contrast magnetic resonance (MR) angiography in detection of significant renal artery stenosis.

Materials And Methods: Sixteen patients underwent digital subtraction angiography and systolically gated three-dimensional phase-contrast MR angiography within 1 week. Scoring of stenosis on MR angiograms was based on presence and length of a flow void and quality of flow signal intensity in the distal part of the artery.