Gadolinium-enhanced MR angiography of the lower extremity arteries with onautomated table-feed technique.

Purpose: To evaluate contrast enhanced magnetic resonance angiography (ceMR A) with an automated table-feed technique in patients with arterio-occlusiv e disease for imaging of the pelvic and peripheral arteries. Methods: Twent y-two patients underwent three-dimensional gadolinium-enhanced MR angio-gra phy in a three-step automatic table-feed technique on a Magnetom Symphony o perating at 1.5 Tesla. Maximum intensity projection images (MIP) were gener ated from the subtracted and original studies. Image quality and venous con trast were evaluated by two groups of observers. 304 Vessels (17 patients) were compared with DSA as the standard of reference. Resorts: All examinati ons were performed without any technical problems. Diagnostic quality of th e MIP of subtracted data sets was superior to that of the unsubtracted imag es. Venous overlay was 61 % in the lower leg. In a total of 599 observation s, a sensitivity of 96 % (95 %, 82 %) and a specificity of 87 % (88 %, 99 % ) were high compared to DSA in the detection of significant stenoses greate r than or equal to 50% (greater than or equal to 75%, occlusions). Interobs erver correlation was good (linear correlation 0.9). Conclusion: Stepping-t able digital subtraction contrast enhanced MRA is a promising technique in the diagnosis of peripheral arterio-occlusive disease.