Radiology
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     

Published online before print April 3, 2003, 10.1148/radiol.2273020671
This Article
Right arrow Figures Only
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow All Versions of this Article:
2273020671v1
227/3/802    most recent
Right arrow Submit a response
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when eLetters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Dirksen, M. S.
Right arrow Articles by de Roos, A.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Dirksen, M. S.
Right arrow Articles by de Roos, A.
(Radiology 2003;227:802-808.)
© RSNA, 2003

Cardiac Imaging

Improved MR Coronary Angiography with Use of a New Rapid Clearance Blood Pool Contrast Agent in Pigs1

Martijn S. Dirksen, MD, Hildo J. Lamb, PhD, Patrik Kunz, PhD, Philippe Robert, MSc, Claire Corot, PhD and Albert de Roos, MD

1 From the Department of Radiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, Rm 62, Post Zone C2-S, 2333 ZA Leiden, the Netherlands (M.S.D., H.J.L., P.K., A.d.R.); and Guerbet Research, Aulnay Sous Bois, France (P.R., C.C.). From the 2001 RSNA scientific assembly. Received June 6, 2002; revision requested July 30; revision received September 3; accepted October 25. Address correspondence to M.S.D. (e-mail: m.s.dirksen@lumc.nl).

PURPOSE: To evaluate in an animal model the potential for clinical use of a new rapid clearance blood pool contrast agent to improve free-breathing and breath-hold magnetic resonance (MR) coronary angiography.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Free-breathing and breath-hold MR coronary angiography were performed in a pig model (n = 9) (a) without use of a contrast agent; (b) with P792 (Guerbet Research, Aulnay Sous Bois, France), a monodisperse monogadolinated macromolecular compound that acts as a blood pool contrast agent with rapid clearance properties; and (c) with an extravascular gadolinium-based contrast agent. This resulted in six imaging options, which were compared in terms of contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR), signal-to-noise ratio, and vessel length measurements by using the Student t test.

RESULTS: Use of P792 improved CNR and visible vessel length significantly with both MR respiratory motion correction approaches, as compared with nonenhanced MR imaging (P < .05). CNR was improved by 76% (from 5.0 to 8.6) with the free-breathing approach and by 34% (from 6.2 to 8.2) with the breath-hold approach. Visible vessel length was increased by 27% (from 79.7 to 99.2 mm) with the free-breathing approach and by 90% (from 48.2 to 86.5 mm) with the breath-hold approach. The P792-enhanced free-breathing approach allowed more distal visualization of the coronary arteries than did the P792-enhanced breath-hold approach (P < .05). Use of the extravascular contrast agent did not improve image quality significantly when compared with that of nonenhanced MR images.

CONCLUSION: Use of P792 improves coronary artery MR imaging in conjunction with free-breathing and breath-hold approaches.

© RSNA, 2003

Index terms: Animals • Contrast media, experimental studies • Coronary vessels, MR, 541.12142, 541.12143 • Magnetic resonance (MR), contrast enhancement, 541.12143 • Magnetic resonance (MR), vascular studies, 541.12142




This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 RadiologyHome page
M. Dewey, M. Taupitz, M. S. Dirksen, H. J. Lamb, and A. de Roos
Contrast-enhanced Coronary MR Angiography [letter] * Dr Dirksen and colleagues respond:
Radiology, June 1, 2004; 231(3): 924 - 924.
[Full Text] [PDF]