2-DIMENSIONAL TIME-OF-FLIGHT MR-ANGIOGRAP HY IN ABDOMINAL AORTIC-ANEURYSM

In abdominal aortic aneurysm ultrasonography, contrast-enhanced CT, an d digital subtraction angiography (DSA) are the preoperative diagnosti c methods of choice accepted today. It was the goal of this study to e valuate time-of-flight magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) in compari son with other radiographic procedures in different types of aneurysms . In 24 patients with proven aortic aneurysm, projection angiograms (M IP algorithm) of the abdominal aorta and pelvic arteries were performe d using two-dimensional gradient echo multi slice sequence (FLASH, TE/ TR = 10/51 ms; three slices; breathhold technique; flip angle = 30-deg rees) in coronal orientation. In addition, renal arteries were imaged in axial slices. The information provided by MRA was comparable to tha t of DSA (perfused vascular lumen) and contrast-enhanced CT (alteratio n of vascular wall). Thus dilatation, thrombus, dissection, or inflamm ation could be analysed safely. Extension of the aneurysm to pelvic ar teries could be evaluated in most cases by rotation of the projection angiograms; ostial renal artery disease could be visualized on axial s lices. If further technical improvement of MRA is presupposed, this no ninvasive method may completely replace the invasive procedures of con trast-enhanced CT and DSA in the future.