M. Born

Noninvasive detection of steno-occlusive disease of the supra-aortic arteries with three-dimensional contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography: A prospective, intra-individual comparative analysis with digital subtraction angiography

Background and Purpose— Concomitant disease of the supra-aortic arteries can influence the outcome of surgical treatment of carotid artery stenosis. However, sensitivity and specificity data of noninvasive contrast-enhanced 3-dimensional (3D) magnetic resonance angiography (CE MRA) for the detection of steno-occlusive disease of the entire supra-aortic arteries including the circle of Willis remain unclear. We aimed to intra-individually compare high-spatial-resolution CE 3D MRA and digital subtraction angiography (DSA) for the assessment of steno-occlusive vascular disease of the supra-aortic arteries. Methods— CE MRA and DSA of the supra-aortic arteries were prospectively performed in 50 consecutive patients. Intra-individual comparison of CE MRA and DSA was available in 833 arteries. High-spatial-resolution CE MRA comprised a measured voxel size of 0.81 mm × 0.81 mm × 1 mm (0.66 mm3). Steno-occlusive vascular disease of the 833 arteries was assessed independently by 2 radiologists according to the NASCET criteria. Results— CE MRA had a sensitivity of 100% (73/73), a specificity of 99.3% (760/765), a positive predictive value of 93.6% (73/78), and a negative predictive value of 100% (760/760) by using a 70% to 99% threshold of arterial diameter stenosis. For detection of occlusion, sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV value of CE MRA were 100%, respectively. Conclusions— Noninvasive high-spatial-resolution CE MRA is suited to replace diagnostic DSA for the detection of steno-occlusive disease of the supra-aortic arteries.

Sensitivity encoding (SENSE) for contrast-enhanced 3D MR angiography of the abdominal arteries.

To assess sensitivity encoding (SENSE) for contrast‐enhanced MR angiography (CE‐MRA) of the abdominal arteries in comparison with standard MRA protocols.