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Blood pool agent strongly improves 3D magnetic resonance coronary angiography using an inversion pre‐pulse
Author(s) -
Hofman Mark B. M.,
Henson Robert E.,
Kovács Sándor J.,
Fischer Stefan E.,
Lauffer Randall B.,
Adzamli Kofi,
De Becker Jan,
Wickline Samuel A.,
Lorenz Christine H.
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
magnetic resonance in medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.696
H-Index - 225
eISSN - 1522-2594
pISSN - 0740-3194
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1522-2594(199902)41:2<360::aid-mrm21>3.0.co;2-c
Subject(s) - contrast (vision) , angiography , medicine , coronary arteries , magnetic resonance imaging , magnetic resonance angiography , coronary angiography , nuclear medicine , nuclear magnetic resonance , radiology , cardiology , artery , physics , optics , myocardial infarction
The ability of a blood pool contrast agent to enhance MR coronary angiography was defined. The proximal coronary vessels of pigs were imaged before and after administration of Gd‐DTPA bound covalently to bovine serum albumin (0.2 mmol/kg). The contrast agent resulted in a reduction of the blood T 1 value to 33 ± 5 msec, as determined in vivo with a Look‐Locker technique. Both 2D and 3D imaging techniques were performed. An inversion pulse suppressed the signal of nonblood tissue postcontrast. After contrast agent administration, in the 3D data set the signal‐to‐noise ratio (SNR) of blood and contrast‐to‐noise ratio (CNR) of blood to myocardium were improved by factors of 2.0 ± 0.2 and 15 ± 8, respectively ( P < 0.05). Postcontrast, the 3D acquisition was superior to the 2D technique in terms of spatial resolution, SNR of blood, and CNR of blood to myocardium. The high contrast of the 3D data set allowed for direct and rapid display of coronary arteries using a “closest vessel projection.”Magn Reson Med 41:360–367, 1999. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.