METHODS: The study was approved by the institutional review board. Twenty-one subjects were imaged using unenhanced 3D bSSFP, time-resolved CEMRA, first-pass gated CEMRA, followed by early and late equilibrium phase gated CEMRA and bT1RESS. Nine additional subjects were imaged using equilibrium phase 3D bSSFP and bT1RESS. Images were evaluated for image quality, aortic root sharpness, and visualization of the coronary artery origins, as well as using standard quantitative measures.
RESULTS: Equilibrium phase bT1RESS provided better image quality, aortic root sharpness, and coronary artery origin visualization than gated CEMRA (P < 0.05), and improved image quality and aortic root sharpness versus unenhanced 3D bSSFP (P < 0.05). It provided significantly larger apparent signal-to-noise and apparent contrast-to-noise ratio values than gated CEMRA and unenhanced 3D bSSFP (P < 0.05) and provided ninefold better fluid suppression than equilibrium phase 3D bSSFP. Aortic diameter and main pulmonary artery diameter measurements obtained with bT1RESS and first-pass gated CEMRA strongly correlated (P < 0.05).
CONCLUSIONS: We found that using bT1RESS greatly prolongs the useful duration of blood pool contrast enhancement while improving angiographic image quality compared with standard CEMRA techniques. Although further study is needed, potential advantages for vascular imaging include eliminating the current requirement for first-pass imaging along with better reliability and accuracy for a wide range of cardiovascular applications.
结果:平衡阶段bT1RESS提供了更好的图像质量,主动脉根部锐度,和冠状动脉起源的可视化比门控CEMRA(P<0.05),与未增强的3DbSSFP相比,提高了图像质量和主动脉根部清晰度(P<0.05)。与门控CEMRA和未增强的3DbSSFP相比,它提供了明显更大的表观信噪比和表观对比度(P<0.05),并且比平衡相3DbSSFP提供了九倍的更好的流体抑制。bT1RESS和首过门控CEMRA获得的主动脉直径和主肺动脉直径测量结果密切相关(P<0.05)。
结论:我们发现,与标准CEMRA技术相比,使用bT1RESS大大延长了血池对比度增强的有用持续时间,同时改善了血管造影图像质量。虽然还需要进一步的研究,血管成像的潜在优势包括消除了当前对首次成像的要求,以及为广泛的心血管应用提供更好的可靠性和准确性。