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Optimization of 3D contrast‐enhanced pulmonary magnetic resonance angiography in pediatric patients with congenital heart disease
Author(s) -
Macgowan Christopher K.,
AlKwifi Osama,
Varodayan Florence,
Yoo ShiJoon,
Wright Graham A.,
Kellenberger Christian J.
Publication year - 2005
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/mrm.20538
Subject(s) - medicine , contrast (vision) , magnetic resonance imaging , magnetic resonance angiography , heart disease , angiography , ascending aorta , artifact (error) , radiology , pulmonary artery , nuclear medicine , aorta , cardiology , neuroscience , biology , artificial intelligence , computer science
Contrast kinetics were studied in the main pulmonary artery (MPA) and ascending aorta (AAo) of 12 children with congenital heart disease. This information was used to optimize the timing of data acquisition for contrast‐enhanced MR angiography in these vessels. To reduce contrast‐agent dosage in these fragile patients, contrast enhancement was measured during routine diagnostic 3D magnetic resonance (MR) angiography instead of using test‐bolus methods. This was possible by acquiring 2D cross‐sectional images of the MPA and AAo during the 3D scan. Time‐to‐peak in the MPA and AAo was 4.9 ± 2.2 and 6.1 ± 2.2 s, respectively, while the transit time between the two vessels was 4.5 ± 0.6 s. A point‐spread‐function analysis showed that intravascular signal strength was maximized if data acquisition began 4.7 ± 2.3 s after the first arrival of contrast in the MPA and 5.6 ± 2.3 s in the AAo. Little signal loss and artifact resulted when longer acquisition delays were used because contrast‐agent clearance was slow. Based on these results, MR angiography of both the MPA and the AAo in children with congenital heart disease can be performed using elliptic‐centric k ‐space sampling and a trigger delay of 7.9 s after contrast arrival in the AAo (i.e., time‐to‐peak signal strength in the AAo plus one SD to account for intersubject variability). Magn Reson Med 54:207–212, 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.