3-DIMENSIONAL TIME-OF-FLIGHT MR-ANGIOGRAPHY OF THE ARCH OF AORTA AND ITS MAJOR BRANCHES - A COMPARATIVE-STUDY WITH CONTRAST ANGIOGRAPHY

The region of the arch of aorta and the intrathoracic course of its ma jor branches was evaluated in 11 patients using three-dimensional time -of-flight magnetic resonance (MR) angiography., Abnormalities such as stenosis, occlusion, dilatation and aneurysm formation were documente d in the innominate, both common carotid and both subclavian arteries. The results were compared with those of contrast angiography. There w as a good correlation in 47 of the 55 arteries compared. There were fi ve false positive results including overestimation of a stenosis, and three false negative results including underestimation of a stenosis. MR angiography had a sensitivity of 93% and a specificity of 89% for c orrectly detecting or excluding an abnormality. These results suggest that three-dimensional time-of-flight MR angiography demonstrates lesi ons in the major branches of the arch of aorta fairly accurately and w ill prove useful in the initial evaluation and in follow up studies.