DIAGNOSTIC PERFORMANCE OF DIGITAL SUBTRACTION ANGIOGRAPHY (DSA) AND MAGNETIC-RESONANCE ANGIOGRAPHY (MRA) - PRELIMINARY-RESULTS IN VASCULAR OCCLUSIVE DISEASE OF THE ABDOMINAL AND LOWER-EXTREMITY ARTERIES

Fifty-nine patients with occlusive disease of the aorto-iliac and femo ro-popliteal arteries were investigated prospectively by intravenous ( IV) or intraarterial (IA) digital subtraction angiography (DSA) and ma gnetic resonance angiography (MRA). This was accomplished using a two- dimensional (2D) Inflow- (59 patients) and a 2D Phase Contrast- (RSE - rapid sequential excitation) sequence (29 patients). The spectrum of pathology included stenoses < 50%, stenoses 50-89%, stenoses 90-99%, o cclusions, aneurysms and status following reconstructive surgery. MRA- and DSA-examinations were evaluated by four radiologists. The diagnos es were made by consent decisions of a radiologist and a vascular surg eon based on clinical and radiological findings. Diagnostic performanc e of IA-DSA was superior to all other imaging modalities. Vascular del ineation of 2D Inflow-MRA was comparable to that of IV-DSA. The image quality of RSE-MRA was not adequate for diagnosis. In conclusion, 2D I nflow-MRA is a promising method for evaluating abdominal and periphera l arteriosclerotic disease. Interpretation of MR-angiograms, however, requires profound knowledge of MRA-techniques, X-ray angiography and h emodynamics.