Coronary artery imaging using contrast-enhanced 3D segmented EPI

The purpose of the work was to evaluate the effectiveness of extracellular contrast media in improving MR coronary angiography using breath-hold segme nted echo-planar imaging (SEPI). Two protocols were designed to optimize th e inversion recovery-prepared contrast-enhanced SEPI method. In 15 healthy volunteers, significant Improvements In signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), contra st-to-noise ratio (CNR), vessel sharpness, and length of visualization were observed post-contrast. The method with two targeted scans to cover the le ft and right arteries, respectively, following separate 20-mL contrast inje ctions, was found to yield thinner slices and longer right coronary artery (RCA) visualization than a single scan following a 40-mL contrast injection without compromising SNR and CNR. In conclusion, extracellular contrast me dia substantially improves the delineation of coronary arteries with SEPI. (C) 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.