Nonenhanced ECG-gated time-resolved 4D steady-state free precession (SSFP) MR angiography (MRA) of cerebral arteries: comparison at 1.5T and 3T.

PURPOSE: To compare image quality of nonenhanced time-resolved 4D steady-state free precession MR angiography (4D SSFP MRA) of cerebral arteries at 1.5T and 3T. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 12 healthy subjects (mean age 29.4±6.9 years) were studied at both 1.5T and 3T. Two different positions of the acquisition slab were evaluated; in one acquisition the imaging slab included the carotid siphon ("S(low)"), in the other acquisition the imaging slab was placed superior to the carotid siphon ("S(high)"). Subjective image quality of cerebral arteries was assessed independently by two readers on a 4-point scale. Relative Signal-to-Noise-Ratio (SNR) was determined for the M1 segment of the middle cerebral artery. RESULTS: Subjective image quality of the anterior cerebral artery (segments A1, A2) was significantly higher at 1.5T as compared to 3T, while 3T provided significantly higher image quality for segment P3 of the posterior cerebral artery. For the middle cerebral artery (segments M1-M3), image quality was significantly higher at 1.5T than at 3T when the carotid siphon was included in the acquisition slab ("S(low)"), while no significant difference was found between 1.5T and 3T with "S(high)". Relative SNR was significantly higher at 1.5T (23.1±5.1) as compared to 3T (12.1±7.8) for "S(low)" and significantly higher at 3T (29.8±5.9) than at 1.5T (24.2±3.6) for "S(high)". CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that 4D SSFP MRA should preferably be performed at 1.5T with inclusion of the carotid siphon in the acquisition slab, which might be required for the assessment of intracranial collateral flow.

Non-enhanced 3D MR angiography of the lower extremity using ECG-gated TSE imaging with non-selective refocusing pulses--initial experience.

PURPOSE: To evaluate non-enhanced 3D MR angiography using turbo spin echo (TSE) imaging with non-selective refocusing pulses (NATIVE SPACE MRA) for the visualization of the arteries of the lower extremity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Three-station imaging (iliac arteries, femoral arteries, arteries of the lower leg) was performed in 8 healthy volunteers and 3 patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD) using a 1.5 T MR scanner. In 8 healthy volunteers, 4 different acquisition schemes were performed with the following imaging parameters: S 1: acquisition with every heartbeat (RR = 1), spoiler gradient of 25 % (SG = 25 %); S 2: RR = 1, SG = 0 %; S 3: RR = 2, SG = 25 %; S 4: RR = 2, SG = 0 %. The subjective image quality on a 4-point-scale (4 = excellent to 1 = not diagnostic) and relative SNR were assessed. In 3 patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD), SPACE MRA was performed for assessment of stenosis. RESULTS: The mean subjective image quality was significantly lower for the iliac arteries compared to the femoral arteries and arteries of the lower leg (p < 0.0001). The subjective image quality for acquisition scheme S 1 was significantly lower than the image quality for S 3 and S 4 for the iliac arteries (p < 0.01), while the subjective image quality for acquisition scheme S 2 was significantly lower than S 3 and S 4 for the femoral arteries and the arteries of the lower leg (p < 0.01). The relative SNR was significantly higher for acquisition schemes S 3 and S 4 as compared to S 1 and S 2 (p < 0.0001) for all regions. SPACE MRA disclosed 7 significant stenoses in 3 PAD patients. CONCLUSION: ECG-gated SPACE MRA is a promising imaging technique for non-enhanced assessment of the arteries of the lower extremity.