Noncontrast coronary artery imaging

Despite advances in the diagnosis of coronary artery disease (CAD), there still exists a strong need for safer and cost-effective techniques to improve visualization of the coronary lumen and vessel wall. Currently, the gold standard for the diagnosis of CAD is coronary X-ray angiography, however, this technique is invasive, costly, and not without risk to the patient. Furthermore, this test does not provide any information about early atherosclerotic disease progression that precedes luminal narrowing. Since its introduction, coronary magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) has been able to overcome some of the disadvantages of X-ray angiography and shows promise in the evaluation of CAD, particularly for proximal coronary disease. Coronary MRA provides a good alternative for patients because it is noninvasive, cost-effective, and without exposure to ionizing radiation. In addition, magnetic resonance techniques can detect abnormalities in the coronary vessel wall before luminal narrowing occurs.