Scoutless stepping-table peripheral contrast-enhanced MR angiography. J Magn Reson Imaging 2006 Feb;23(2):235-41
Date
12/24/2005Pubmed ID
16374881DOI
10.1002/jmri.20476Scopus ID
2-s2.0-31944448890 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 5 CitationsAbstract
PURPOSE: To evaluate the feasibility of a scoutless method, termed EZ-STEP, for stepping-table peripheral contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography (CE-MRA).
MATERIALS AND METHODS: This scoutless method involves the use of a stepping-table, fast 3D MRA acquisition that incorporates spatially nonselective radiofrequency (RF) pulses for excitation to reduce the repetition time (TR). The sequence was tested in a phantom. The EZ-STEP protocol was optimized in four healthy volunteers and used in 15 subjects. The image quality was scored in a blinded fashion and compared with conventional MRA in eight patients.
RESULTS: The acquisition speed of the EZ-STEP sequence was approximately 30% faster in the phantom study compared to the conventional MRA sequence. The total examination time for EZ-STEP was 6 minutes, compared to an average of 23 minutes for conventional MRA. The average image quality scores for EZ-STEP and conventional MRA for stations 1-3 were 3.50 vs. 3.06 (P = 0.087), 3.53 vs. 3.00 (P = 0.033), and 2.97 vs. 2.50 (P = 0.090), respectively.
CONCLUSION: EZ-STEP is a more efficient method than the conventional approach for stepping-table peripheral CE-MRA, and provides comparable or better image quality. This method shortens the examination time substantially and eliminates the risk of failing to image a vessel because of improper positioning of the scan volume.
Author List
Li W, Vu AT, Tutton S, Li BS, Bejm R, Pierchala L, Edelman RRMESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
AdultAged
Aged, 80 and over
Arterial Occlusive Diseases
Cohort Studies
Contrast Media
Female
Femoral Artery
Gadolinium
Humans
Image Processing, Computer-Assisted
Leg
Male
Middle Aged
Peripheral Vascular Diseases
Popliteal Artery
Probability
Reference Values
Sensitivity and Specificity
Time Factors