Contrast agent-enhanced, free-breathing, three-dimensional coronary magnetic resonance angiography

J Magn Reson Imaging. 1999 Nov;10(5):790-9. doi: 10.1002/(sici)1522-2586(199911)10:5<790::aid-jmri25>3.0.co;2-i.

Abstract

For free-breathing, high-resolution, three-dimensional coronary magnetic resonance angiography (MRA), the use of intravascular contrast agents may be helpful for contrast enhancement between coronary blood and myocardium. In six patients, 0.1 mmol/kg of the intravascular contrast agent MS-325/AngioMARK was given intravenously followed by double-oblique, free-breathing, three-dimensional inversion-recovery coronary MRA with real-time navigator gating and motion correction. Contrast-enhanced, three-dimensional coronary MRA images were compared with images obtained with a T2 prepulse (T2Prep) without exogenous contrast. The contrast-enhanced images demonstrated a 69% improvement in the contrast-to-noise ratio (6.6 +/- 1.1 vs. 11.1 +/- 2.5; P < 0.01) compared with the T2Prep approach. By using the intravascular agent, extensive portions (> 80 mm) of the native left and right coronary system could be displayed consistently with sub-millimeter in-plane resolution. The intravascular contrast agent, MS-325/AngioMARK, leads to a considerable enhancement of the blood/muscle contrast for coronary MRA compared with T2Prep techniques. The clinical value of the agent remains to be defined in a larger patient series. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 1999;10:790-799.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Contrast Media
  • Coronary Disease / pathology*
  • Coronary Vessels / pathology
  • Female
  • Gadolinium
  • Humans
  • Image Processing, Computer-Assisted
  • Magnetic Resonance Angiography / methods*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Organometallic Compounds

Substances

  • Contrast Media
  • Organometallic Compounds
  • Gadolinium
  • gadofosveset trisodium