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Nonenhanced extracranial carotid MR angiography using arterial spin labeling: Improved performance with pseudocontinuous tagging
Author(s) -
Koktzoglou Ioannis,
Gupta NavYash,
Edelman Robert R.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
journal of magnetic resonance imaging
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.563
H-Index - 160
eISSN - 1522-2586
pISSN - 1053-1807
DOI - 10.1002/jmri.22628
Subject(s) - arterial spin labeling , medicine , intraclass correlation , nuclear medicine , magnetic resonance angiography , carotid arteries , carotid artery disease , radiology , magnetic resonance imaging , cardiology , carotid endarterectomy , clinical psychology , psychometrics
Purpose: To compare pulsed arterial spin labeling (PASL) and pseudocontinuous arterial spin labeling (PCASL) for nonenhanced extracranial carotid MR angiography (MRA). Materials and Methods: Parametric signal equations for PASL and PCASL MRA were formulated and compared. Volunteer imaging (n = 7) at 1.5 Tesla was performed to compare the methods over a broad range of repetition and labeling times. Empirical results were compared with theoretical predictions. The feasibility of the optimal method was investigated in patients (n = 2) with sonographically documented carotid artery disease. Results: In volunteers, PCASL provided significantly improved signal than PASL (range: 32–255% improvement; P < 0.01), and better supported the use of long labeling times and short repetition times. Excellent agreement between theory and experiment was found (intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.966; P < 0.001). PCASL provided excellent depiction of the carotid arteries in initial patient studies. Conclusion: Compared with pulsed tagging, pseudocontinuous tagging provides improved performance for nonenhanced extracranial carotid MRA and warrants further clinical investigation. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2011;. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.