Blood pool agent strongly improves 3D magnetic resonance coronary angiography using an inversion pre-pulse

Mark B M Hofman, Robert E. Henson, Sándor J. Kovács, Stefan E. Fischer, Randall B. Lauffer, Kofi Adzamli, Jan De Becker, Samuel A. Wickline, Christine H. Lorenz

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

60 Scopus citations

Abstract

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 T1 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'.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)360-367
Number of pages8
JournalMagnetic Resonance in Medicine
Volume41
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - 1999
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Blood pool contrast agent
  • Coronary angiography
  • Magnetic resonance imaging
  • Swine

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Radiology Nuclear Medicine and imaging
  • Radiological and Ultrasound Technology

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