Double-oblique free-breathing high resolution three-dimensional coronary magnetic resonance angiography

OBJECTIVES The goal of the present study was to develop a strategy for thre e-dimensional (3D) volume acquisition along the major axes of the coronary arteries. BACKGROUND For high-resolution 3D free-breathing coronary magnetic resonanc e angiography (MRA), coverage of the coronary artery tree may be limited du e to excessive measurement times associated with large volume acquisitions. Planning the 3D volume along the major axis of the coronary vessels may he lp to overcome such limitations. METHODS Fifteen healthy adult volunteers and seven patients with X-ray angi ographically confirmed coronary artery disease underwent free-breathing nav igator-gated and corrected 3D coronary MRA. For an accurate volume targetin g of the high resolution scans, a three-point planscan software tool was ap plied RESULTS The average length of contiguously visualized left main and left an terior descending coronary artery was 81.8 +/- 13.9 mm in the healthy volun teers and 76.2 +/- 16.5 mm in the patients (p = NS). For the right coronary artery, a total length of 111.7 +/- 27.7 mm was found in the healthy volun teers and 79.3 +/- 4.6 mm in the patients (p = NS). Comparing coronary MRA and X-ray angiography, a good agreement of anatomy and pathology was found in the patients. CONCLUSIONS Double-oblique submillimeter free-breathing coronary MRA allows depiction of extensive parts of the native coronary arteries. The results obtained in patients suggest that the method has the potential to be applie d in broader prospective multicenter studies where corollary MRA is compare d with X-ray angiography. (C) 1999 by the American College of Cardiology.