Lw. Bartels et al., Placement of an inferior vena cava filter in a pig guided by high-resolution MR fluoroscopy at 1.5 T, J MAGN R I, 12(4), 2000, pp. 599-605
Percutaneous placement of an inferior vena cava filter is a means for long-
term prevention of pulmonary thromboembolism. In this study we investigated
the magnetic resonance (MR) imaging properties of a Nitinol vena cava filt
er, in various anatomic and angiographic scans, as well as the feasibility
of placing this filter under near real-time, high-resolution MR fluoroscopy
. We made use of the passive tracking strategy, with on-line image processi
ng and visualization, both in vitro and in a pig. The artifacts provoked by
the metallic filter were such that the position and orientation of the fil
ter were well depicted in all scans. Considerable radiofrequency caging obs
cured the interior of the filter. Our experiments showed that an MR-guided
vena cava filter placement, with sufficient temporal and spatial resolution
, is possible. Three-dimensional phase contrast MRA allowed direct evaluati
on of the filter placement procedure, without the use of contrast agent. J.
Magn. Reson. Imaging 2000; 12:599-605. (C) 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.