Contrast-enhanced MF angiography (CE MRA) in the study of the carotid stenosis: Comparison with digital subtraction angiography (DSA)

Purpose To determine sensitivity, specificity and diagnostic accuracy of contrast-e nhanced magnetic resonance angiography (CE MRA) compared to digital subtrac tion angiography (DSA) in the study of carotid stenosis. Methods and material We studied 23 patients with suspected cerebro-vascular insufficiency by car otid stenosis. Diagnostic examinations by means of CE MRA and DSA were carr ied out within 24 hours of each other. A 1.5 T superconductive magnet (Sign a General Electric) was used for CE MRA. This technique was performed using a fast spoiled gradient echo recalled (SPGR) sequence acquired in coronal plane 13 sec after injection of contrast medium. Imaging parameters were: T R/TE/FA 8 msec/1 msec/60 degrees, matrix 256 x 128, 1 excitation, FOV 18 x 13 cm, 25 slices per slab, slice thickness of 1 mm, acquisition time of 32 sec. The post-processing was performed using maximum intensity projection ( MIP) and targeted MIP. For DSA examinations a Politron 1000 VR unit (Siemen s) was used. Results In the identification and quantification of lesions, CE MRA showed values o f 100%. In particular, in comparison to DSA, CE MRA was accurate in diagnos ing all true negative and positive cases. The location of stenosis evaluate d with CE MRA agreed in all cases with DSA. Conclusion In our experience CE MRA proved to be a very valuable technique in diagnosi ng carotid stenosis, showing the same diagnostic accuracy as DSA. In this w ay CE MRA appears to be a substantial alternative technique to conventional MRA and other non-invasive diagnostic methods.