CAROTID ANGIOGRAPHY BY MAGNETIC-RESONANCE

Using magnetic resonance imaging, arteriosclerotic lesions of the supr a-aortic vessels may be well demonstrated. The comparison between 3 ma gnetic resonance angiography (MRA) techniques (Spin Echo, Gradient Ech o 2D FLASH, Gradient Echo 3D FISP) and Digital Subtraction Angiography (DSA) as reference in 50 patients suspicious of stenotic lesions prov ed the high reliability of these methods. Specially in determining the degree of stenosis, a good correlation between DSA and SE in 87 %, be tween DSA and 2D FLASH in 78 % and between DSA and 3D FISP in 83 % cou ld be assessed. Since 3D technique may exagerate the degree of stenosi s, we didn't observe any false negative result in severe stenosis. The refore we think that the 3D technique is a safe technique which enable s a good overview of the supra-aortic vessels and could therefore be s uitable for screening.