3-DIMENSIONAL CORONARY MR-ANGIOGRAPHY USING ZONAL ECHO-PLANAR IMAGING

Using an adapted two-dimensional spatially selective RF excitation sch eme, a novel yet practical three-dimensional (3D) zonal echo-planar im aging technique for MR coronary angiography has been developed. The ro bustness of the technique compared with the two-dimensional (2D) segme nted fast low angle shot (FLASH) method was evaluated using the right coronary artery images of 16 asymptomatic volunteers with a 0.5-T mobi le scanner. Each 3D acquisition required multiple breath-holds, and re al-time navigator echoes were used to ensure consistent breath-holding . Advantages of the technique include an improved signal-to-noise rati o, clearer depiction of tortuous coronary vessels due to decreased par tial volume effects, and reduced motion blurring by the use of a short echo-planar readout.