Three-dimensional MR coronary angiography with the navigator technique forprimary diagnosis of coronary artery disease: Comparison with conventionalcoronary angiography.

Purpose: Evaluation of three-dimensional MR coronary angiography with the n avigator technique for the primary diagnosis of coronary artery disease (CA D) in patients with chest pain. Materials and Methods: In this prospective study 20 patients with chest pain were examined with MR coronary angiograph y and conventional angiography. The three-dimensional MR coronary angiograp hy was performed using a 1.5 T scanner with an EGG-triggered 3D-FLASH-seque nce and retrospective respiratory gating in the navigator technique. The MR coronary angiography was evaluated by two radiologists blinded to the resu lts of the conventional coronary angiography. Results: One patient was excl uded from further evaluation due to reduced image quality. Conventional cor onary angiography excluded CAD in 8/19 patients, 11/19 patients overall sho wed 20 stenoses (> 50%) or occlusions. With MR coronary angiography, CAD wa s correctly excluded in 7 patients, one patient was false positive, one pat ient was false negative. 14/20 stenoses (> 50%) or occlusions were detected , 5 stenoses were diagnosed false positive. Sensitivity and specificity for primary diagnosis of CAD or detection of coronary artery stenoses were 91% and 88% or 70% and 91%, respectively. Discussion: Using MR coronary angiog raphy with the navigator technique in the primary evaluation of CAD, the di agnosis of stenoses or occlusions of the main coronary arteries is feasible .