Optimization of scantiming in abdominal breathhold contrast-enhanced MRA: an empirical guideline

The objective of this study to determine a suitable scan timing scheme in c ontrast enhanced MRA for the depiction of the arterial. the portal and the systemic venous system in the abdomen with maximum signal intensity in heal thy subjects and in patients with cirrhosis. The signal intensity in the ao rta, hepatic artery. portal vein, left renal vein and the supra- and infrar enal IVC were measured in 40 consecutive orthotopic liver transplantation c andidates with cirrhosis and 20 healthy renal donors in a bolus triggered a rterial scan and after 30, 60, 90 and 150 s respectively. The aorta and hep atic artery showed the highest signal intensity on the arterial scan. The p ortal and left renal vein showed the highest signal intensity after 30 s, t he suprarenal IVC after 60 s and the infrarenal IVC after 90 s. No signific ant differences were found between healthy subjects and patients with cirrh osis. The arterial, portal and systemic venous system in the abdomen can be visualized selectively with maximum signal intensity by proper timing of t he scans, hereby reducing redundant scans. Scanning at just the right time to achieve optimal vessel opacification can he promoted by using data from this study. The proposed scan scheme is suitable for subjects with and with out cirrhosis. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.