PERIPHERAL VASCULAR TREE STENOSES - EVALUATION WITH MOVING-BED INFUSION-TRACKING MR-ANGIOGRAPHY

PURPOSE: To evaluate a magnetic resonance (MR) angiographic technique for imaging of the peripheral arteries with gadolinium enhancement. MA TERIALS AND METHODS: Moving-bed infusion-tracking MR angiograms were o btained in 15 healthy volunteers and in 28 patients with intermittent claudication before and during slow infusion of contrast material. Low er- and upper-led and pelvic regions were imaged. Unenhanced images we re subtracted from gadolinium-enhanced images, and maximum intensity p rojection images were generated. Image quality was evaluated subjectiv ely and objectively, and maximum intensity projection images were comp ared with conventional angiograms, which served as the standard of ref erence. RESULTS: Moving-bed infusion-tracking MR angiography proved to be a robust technique, and image quality on maximum intensity project ion images was comparable with that on conventional angiograms. Sensit ivity and specificity for grading hemodynamically significant stenoses were 93% and 98%, respectively, with excellent interobserver agreemen t. CONCLUSION: Moving-bed infusion-tracking MR angiography can be used to image all peripheral arteries in 4 minutes by using a small amount of contrast material and a conventional 1.5-T MR imager.