P. Bornert et al., Direct comparison of 3D spiral vs. Cartesian gradient-echo coronary magnetic resonance angiography, MAGN RES M, 46(4), 2001, pp. 789-794
Citations number
25
Categorie Soggetti
Radiology ,Nuclear Medicine & Imaging","Medical Research Diagnosis & Treatment
While 3D thin-slab coronary magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) has tradit
ionally been performed using a Cartesian acquisition scheme, spiral k-space
data acquisition offers several potential advantages. However, these strat
egies have not been directly compared in the same subjects using similar me
thodologies. Thus, in the present study a comparison was made between 3D co
ronary MRA using Cartesian segmented k-space gradient-echo and spiral k-spa
ce data acquisition schemes. In both approaches the same spatial resolution
was used and data were acquired during free breathing using navigator gati
ng and prospective slice tracking. Magnetization preparation (T-2 preparati
on and fat suppression) was applied to increase the contrast. For spiral im
aging two different examinations were performed, using one or two spiral in
terleaves, during each R-R Interval. Spiral acquisitions were found to be s
uperior to the Cartesian scheme with respect to the signal-to-noise ratio (
SNR) and contrast-to-noise-ratio (CNR) (both P < 0.001) and image quality.
The single spiral per R-R interval acquisition had the same total scan dura
tion as the Cartesian acquisition, but the single spiral had the best image
quality and a 2.6-fold increase in SNR. The double-interleaf spiral approa
ch showed a 50% reduction in scanning time, a 1.8-fold increase in SNR, and
similar image quality when compared to the standard Cartesian approach. Sp
iral 3D coronary MRA appears to be preferable to the Cartesian scheme. The
increase in SNR may be "traded" for either shorter scanning times using mul
tiple consecutive spiral interleaves, or for enhanced spatial resolution. (
C) 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.