COMBINED USE OF ECG-TRIGGERED 2D-PHASE CO NTRAST MR-ANGIOGRAPHY AND 2D-TIME-OF-FLIGHT MR-ANGIOGRAPHY FOR PLANNING AND FOLLOW-UP BEFORE AND AFTER ANGIOINTERVENTION OF PELVIC ARTERIES AND ARTERIES OF THE LOWER-LIMB

Purpose: To develop a strategy for the complete work-up of vessel lume n and vessel wall for planning and follow-up of radiological intervent ions of lower extremity arteries. Methods: A total of 36 patients (21 pre-, 8 post- and 7 pre- and postinterventional) were studied. MRA stu dies were performed using an EGG-triggered phase contrast technique fo r the demonstration of intraluminal flow and an axial high resolution time-of-flight technique to assess the vascular wall. All MRA studies were analysed by intraindividual DSA comparison for the assessment of flow and wall structures. Results: Combined MRA techniques provided a good correlation with DSA for the assessment of vascular flow. The kap patest revealed a value of greater than 0.61 for most on the vessel se gments proving a good correlation of both methods. Orthogonal highreso lution TOF-MRA provided additional information for the assessment post interventional wall haematomas and hard plaques. Conclusion: Combinati on of PCA to study flow and axial TOF to study wall pathology improves the usefulness of peripheral MRA.