Volume coronary angiography using targeted scans (VCATS): A new strategy in MR coronary angiography

The aim of this study was to explore the clinical possibilities of a new st rategy for magnetic resonance imaging of the coronary arteries. Thirteen pa tients were studied by volume coronary angiography using targeted scans (VC ATS) to visualize the major coronary arteries in a series of breath-holds. The proximal coronary arteries were clearly seen in 92% and the mid segment s in 50-70% of the patients. VCATS was able to visualize a total vessel len gth of the left main (LM) (mean: 9.4 +/- 3.4 mm), of the left anterior desc ending (LAD) 69 +/- 20 mm, of the right coronary artery (RCA) 90 +/- 33 mm and of the left circumflex (LCX) 41 +/- 18 mm. There was a reasonable corre lation between the VCATS and conventional coronary angiography (CAG) for ve ssel diameter (r = 0.71), with a slight overestimation of 0.7 mm by VCATS. There were nine significant stenoses present of which six were correctly de tected, three were missed and one false positive was present. VCATS is fast strategy for visualizing the major coronary artery branches and has the po tential to detect significant stenoses in these branches.