Evaluation of the supraaortic arteries using non-contrast-enhanced velocity MR angiography "inhance"

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Nina Lummel - , Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (Author)
  • Tobias Boeckh-Behrens - , Technical University of Munich (Author)
  • Juergen Lutz - , Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (Author)
  • Michael Burke - , GE Healthcare (Author)
  • Jennifer Linn - , Hospital of the Ludwig-Maximilians-University (LMU) Munich, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (Author)

Abstract

Introduction: The aim of this study was to compare the recently developed phase contrast-based Inhance 3D Velocity magnetic resonance angiography technique (Inhance) to the contrast-enhanced standard method (CE-MRA) in the evaluation of the supraaortic arteries. Methods: Inhance and CE-MRA were performed in ten consecutive patients with a suspected pathology of the supraaortic arteries on a 3-T MR scanner. Two neuroradiologists evaluated in consensus both sequences regarding the visualisation of the supraaortic arteries and their segments on a five-point score. Diagnostic certainty regarding the overall presence of a vascular pathology was rated on the same five-point score. Results: On CE-MRA as well as on Inhance, a vascular pathology of the supraaortic arteries was detected in seven patients. There was no statistically significant difference in the overall diagnostic certainty regarding the presence or absence of pathologic findings for CE-MRA compared to Inhance. Furthermore, no statistically significant difference was found with regard to visualisation of the distal cervical and intracranial arterial segments, while CE-MRA was superior to Inhance in the visualisation of the origins of the cervical vessels from the aortic arch. Conclusion: Non-contrast Inhance proved useful in the evaluation of the supraaortic arteries with limited assessment of the proximal supraaortic branches. Hence, this technique features a valuable alternative to CE-MRA in the visualisation of the supraaortic arteries, particularly in patients with renal insufficiency.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1215-1219
Number of pages5
JournalNeuroradiology
Volume54
Issue number11
Publication statusPublished - Nov 2012
Peer-reviewedYes
Externally publishedYes

External IDs

PubMed 22569954

Keywords

Keywords

  • CE-MRA, Inhance, Magnetic resonance angiography, MRA, Supraaortic arteries